Sidhi (MP)/ Mathura (UP), Jan 9
A pall of gloom descended on two villages in Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh on Wednesday from where the soldiers brutally killed in the attack by Pakistani hailed.

Wrapped in the Tricolour, the caskets containing the bodies of Lance Naik Hemraj and Lance Naik Sudhakar Singh were being brought to their villages, a day after the soldiers were killed and their bodies mutilated at a forward post in Poonch sector in Jammu and Kashmir.

Hemraj (29) hailed from Shernagar village in Mathura district in UP while Singh (28) came from Darhia village near Churhat in Sidhi district in neighbouring MP. The jawans belonged to 13 Rajputana Rifles.

Hemraj’s grieving family was being consoled by relatives amid shouts of "Hemraj amar rahey". "We are proud of the son of our village. We are united in this moment of grief," said Hemraj's uncle outside the home of the soldier.

Singh, who had joined the Army in 2002, is survived by wife Durga Singh and a four-month-old son.

The caskets containing the bodies were first brought to Rajouri from the forward post in Poonch district before being taken in a helicopter to Jammu technical airport. They were then brought to Delhi for the onward journey to the two villages.

Amid a sombre mood, a wreath laying ceremony was held with full military honours at Rajouri airstrip, where Deputy General Officer Commanding (Dy-GOC), Brig JC Tiwari laid wreaths on the bodies of the jawans.

Leader of Opposition in Madhya Pradesh Assembly Ajay Singh, an MLA from Churhat, said it was very sad that a valiant soldier had lost his life at the hands of Pakistani military men. The whole of MP mourns the loss, he said.

A team of Madhya Pradesh police officials has reached Darhia village to receive Singh's body. — PTI