Major Pandey's last rites held with full military honours

The last rites of Major Kamlesh Pandey, killed by militants during a search operation in Shopian district of Kashmir, were conducted with full military honours near Haldwani in Uttarakhand on Friday, where his parents stay.

The funeral pyre was lit by Major Pandey's younger brother. Chants of 'Vande Mataram' and 'Hindustan Zindabad' rent the air as a large number of people watched his mortal remains being consigned to flames at Chitrashila Ghat, Ranibag near Haldwani.

Uttarakhand minister Yashpal Arya, District Magistrate Dipendra Chowdhary and Senior Superintendent of Police Janmenjay Khanduri were among those who attended the last rites.

Major Pandey, Sepoys Tanzin Chhultim and Kirpal Singh were injured in the firing by militants at Zainapora in Shopian district during a cordon and search operation launched by security forces on Thursday.

The injured soldiers were evacuated to the Army's 92 Base Hospital here for treatment but Major Pandey and Sepoy Chhultim succumbed to injuries.