A teary Masagram village waits for their son to return home but this time, in a coffin

The mortal remains of Naik Dipak Kumar Maity, who was killed in a terrorist attack at Qazigund in Kashmir, will be brought to his village at Masagram in Midnapore on Monday morning where his last rites will be performed with full military honours. Naik Dipak (40) and the 25-year-old gunner (operator) Manivannan G died in the terrorist attack in Kashmir on Saturday.

Naik Dipak, who had joined the Indian Army in 1997, was from Masagram village near Duria in Midnapore. He is survived by his wife Rikita Maity and his 13-year-old daughter Riya.

His mortal remains were brought to Kolkata on the night of June 4 in a special aircraft that landed in Kolkata airport at around 11 pm. The remains were taken to the mortuary in Command Hospital at Alipore. At around 5.30 am on Monday, his remains will be taken to his village.

Senior officers of the Indian Army paid their tributes to Naik Dipak and Manivannan G, who attained martyrdom in Kashmir on Saturday. Lt Gen J S Sandhu, Chinar Corps Commander, paid homage to both of them in a solemn ceremony at B B cantonment in Srinagar. The DGP of Jammu and Kashmir also paid homage along with other senior officials of the civil administration.

The remains of both Naik Dipak and Manivannan G were sent to the airports closest to their respective homes in special aircraft from Srinagar after the senior officers had paid their tributes. Manivannan G was from Thiruvannamalai in Tamilnadu. He had joined the Army in 2013. He is survived by his mother, G Chinnaponnu and his father, Gopal G.

A pall of gloom descended over Masagram village when the news of Naik Dipak's death reached his family. Local people and villagers were found recollecting their memories of him. According to the locals, he used to mix freely with everyone whenever he visited the village, thrice a year. He was also known for helping people in the village whenever needed.

Local police have also made necessary arrangements, anticipating a large gathering when his last rites are performed in the village.