Jammu, May 11 – A heart-wrenching farewell was given to Rifleman Sunil Kumar (25), who succumbed to injuries sustained in Pakistani shelling along the International Border in the RS Pura sector of Jammu. His village, Triva, located near the zero line in the Arnia sector, came together in grief as hundreds gathered to honour the braveheart’s final journey.
Kumar, a soldier of the 4-JAKLI (Jammu and Kashmir Light Infantry), was critically injured during cross-border shelling early Saturday and later succumbed to his wounds. Coming from a family steeped in military tradition, with two elder brothers currently serving and a father who is an ex-serviceman, Kumar was deeply inspired from childhood to join the armed forces and serve the nation.
Entire Village United in Mourning
The usually quiet border village was emotionally charged as Kumar's tricolour-draped coffin arrived in a decorated army vehicle. Chants in honour of the soldier and the nation echoed through the area as hundreds of villagers joined the mourning family to pay their respects.Emotional scenes unfolded as Kumar's parents and other family members requested one last glimpse of their beloved son. His mortal remains were then taken to Parmandal, where the final rites were conducted with full military honours.
A Life Cut Short
Former village sarpanch Balbir Kour shared that Kumar was known for his humility and kindness, and was soon to be married. “The entire village is in mourning as we lost a son of the soil who grew up in this border village and gave up his life in service of the nation,” she said.Call for Stronger Action
The village had been evacuated days earlier as a precaution following missile strikes by Indian forces on terror infrastructure across the border and the subsequent retaliatory shelling by Pakistan. While the community expressed solidarity with Kumar’s family, there was also palpable frustration.Kour voiced the collective sentiment of many villagers, stating that the nation had missed an opportunity to decisively counter Pakistan’s persistent provocations. “We were expecting the government to teach Pakistan a lesson so that it can never think of indulging in terror acts to bleed India,” she said.
The funeral of Rifleman Sunil Kumar served not only as a tribute to his valour but also as a stark reminder of the price paid by border communities amid ongoing hostilities.