CHANDIGARH, Aug 22 — The mortal remains of Brigadier B.S. Shergill, who was killed in a landmine blast in Kupwara District while on active service, were consigned to flames with full military honours here today.

The mortal remains of Colonel Rajinder Chauhan, who was also killed in the same explosion, were airlifted here along with the body of Brig Shergill from Srinagar. While the body of Col Chauhan was airlifted to his native place, Shahpur village near Dharamsala, the mortal remains of Brig Shergill were first brought to his residence here before being taken to the Sector 25 cremation grounds.

Brig Shergill, along with Colonel Rajinder Chauhan, Commanding Officer of 21 Rashtriya Rifles (RR), and a soldier were killed on Monday, when a remote-controlled IED blew up the vehicle in which they were travelling. The officer was on an area familiarisation visit when the incident occurred at Waropa village, about 4 km from the RR battalion headquarters. This is the first time that such a high-ranking officer has been killed in Kashmir.

It was a tragic scene at the Air Force station as well as at the residence of Brig Shergill. His residence was jam-packed as a large number of grieving relatives and well wishers visited to pay their last respects to the departed soldier. Family members were inconsolable at the loss and there were tears in the eyes of many well wishers, friends and neighbours. Service personnel as well members of the media fraternity were there in large numbers.

The Tricolour-draped body was then taken to the Sector 25 cremation ground, where the last rites were performed with full service honours. Arms were reversed and the Last Post followed by the Rouse were sounded on the bugle. A three shot volley was fired as a mark of respect as the pyre was lit by his only brother, Dr S S Shergill, a doctor at the PGI.

He is survived by his wife, Mrs Harinder Pal Kaur and two daughters, 22-year-old Parneet, who is working as a staff reporter with a national daily at Chandigarh, and 18-year old Kirti, a BA-II student.

The Governor of Punjab, Lt Gen JFR Jacob (retd) also visited Brig Shergill’s residence and laid a wreath. The Punjab Minister for Local Bodies, Mr Balramji Das Tandon represented the state government at the cremation, while the UT Deputy Commissioner, Mr M Ramsekar, represented the Chandigarh Administration.

Earlier, the mortal remains of both officers were received at the Chandigarh Air Force Station by family members in the afternoon. Full military honours were accorded at the local Air Force Station before the bodies were handed over to the respective families. A ceremonial guard reversed arms and the Last Post was sounded. Wreaths were laid by The Chief of Staff, Western Command, Lt-Gen B.S. Malik, Major-General-in-Charge Administration, Maj-Gen P Vig, AOC Advance Headquarters, Air-Vice Marshal Nirmal Thusu, AOC 12 Wing, Air Cmde S.K. Banerjee, besides a host of Army and Air Force officers.

Commissioned into the 3rd Battalion of the Punjab Regiment in 1971, Brig Shergill had been posted to Kupwara this month, where he had taken over as Commander, 7 Sector of the Rashtriya Rifles on August 18. Though he had been approved for promotion some time back, he had picked up his rank of Brigadier only a few days ago. He was here in the city about a week ago, when the family had got together for a party to celebrate his promotion.

Hailing from Sangrur district in Punjab, Brig Shergill completed his schooling from Gangarh village before being selected for the National Defence Academy. He was earlier posted in Bareilly for a short while before being sent to Kashmir. While this was his first posting to the strife-torn state, he had earlier been to the valley on special operations. Brig Shergill also had the opportunity of commanding his battalion twice — during the period of militancy in Punjab and then in the North East. In addition to holding the appointment of the Colonel General Staff of 6 Mountain Division, Brig Shergill had also served with the IPKF in Sri Lanka. Officers accompanying his body described him a practical, down-to earth die hard soldier, one who had volunteered to serve in the hot zone.

Mrs Shergill, who was in Delhi when the tragedy occurred, arrived here last night. Both her daughters were in the city. Parneet was at her desk in her office, while the news was broken to her younger sister over the phone. The sisters, both inconsolable, were first taken to their aunt’s residence in Sector 21 and thereafter moved to their home in Sector 47.

The mortal remains of Col Chauhan were received at the Air Force Station by his wife, Mrs Hemlata Chauhan, and his 12-year old son, Jaivijay Singh Chauhan. They were airlifted by helicopter to the Gaggal airstrip near Dharamsala, from where their native place Shahpur is about 3 km.

Commissioned into 2 Guards in 1978, he studied at the Sherwood School in Nainital, where his wife is currently teaching and his son studying in Class VII. He had been commanding his battalion for about two and a half years and had been decorated with the Sena Medal earlier this year.