Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, April 02 2010:
Father (who is also a retired soldier) of brave soldier of Indian Army from Manipur who scarified his life in fighting with militants in Jammu and Kashmir on March 30 last, today said that he wanted his grandsons follow the same suit and serve the Indian Army while expressing proud of his son.
The lifeless body of a soldier of 60 Rashtriya Rifles (Naga Regiment), Lance Naib Shahni Lohrii, Phungdung Mao of phungdung village of Senapati district of Manipur who succumbed to his injury in gun-battle with Laskar-e-Toiba (LET) militants at Rajouri district of Jammu and Kashmir on March 30 last was brought back Imphal today by a special flight of the Indian Air Force, at about 1 pm by a special flight of the Indian Air Force.
Brigadier MC Joshi of 73 Mountain Division, led the Army team in giving last salutes to the deceased soldier from Manipur belonging to 60 Rashtriya Rifles (Naga Regiment) at the Imphal Airport.
The country lost a brave and dutiful jawan who served the country till his last breath, said MC Joshi speaking on the occasion.
His service as a jawan will be remembered forever in the history of Indian Army, he added.
He also assured of all kind of assistances from the Army side to the family of slain brave soldier.
The slain jawan was survived by his wife and four children.
His father, AS Mao was also a retired subedar major of the Indian Army.
He got the fruit of being an Indian, he said.
"I am proud of my son who scarified his life for the sake of motherland.
I would like to my grandsons to follow the same suit and serve the Indian Army and fight with the enemy," Mao told reporters at Imphal Airport where he came with his family to received the lifeless body of his son.
The lifeless body of the jawan in a coffin covered with tri-colour flag was later taken to his native village for performing the last rites this afternoon.
Lance Naib, Shahni Lohrii, mention may be made, was among the three jawans lost their lives in the gun battle that killed four top Pakistani militants belonging to LeT in a two-day fierce gun battle in Rajouri district of (J&K) on March 30.Shahni who received severe injury died at the hospital later.