Braveheart Thapa gets hero’s farewell

Tribune News Service

Dehradun, July 25

Naik Anup Kumar Thapa of Uttarakhand, who was killed while fighting infiltrators in Kupwara (Jammu and Kashmir) on Friday, was cremated with full military honours here today.

Governor Dr KK Paul, Chief Minister Harish Rawat and the top brass paid floral tributes to martyr Thapa. The last post was sounded and wreaths were laid on behalf of Chief of Army Staff, GOC-in-C Western Command and other military dignitaries in a solemn ceremony. Naik Thapa was a highly motivated and a courageous soldier who performed his duties with utmost pride.

A pall of gloom descended when the corpse of the martyr, draped in the Tricolour, was brought to his house in Mohebewala colony here. Relatives, friends and neighbours continued to console the bereaved family members. The mourners bowed in respect while those in uniform saluted the martyr.

Amid chanting of slogans like “Thapa Amar Rahe” and “Bharat Mata Ki Jai”, Thapa’s body was consigned to flames at the Chandrabani cremation ground.

Naik Thapa was deployed on active duty in Kupwara sector where a major infiltration bid was foiled with the elimination of four terrorists in a fierce gun battle near the LOC. The gunfight erupted when the unit noticed movement of a group of heavily armed terrorists in the area. In the ensuing battle with the terrorists, Naik Thapa sustained gun shots to which he later succumbed.