LoC martyr Naik Kundalik Mane cremated in Kolhapur

KOLHAPUR/PUNE: The mortal remains of Naik Kundalik Mane, who was among five soldiers killed along LoC, were today consigned to flames with full military honours at his native village Pimpalgaon in Kolhapur district of western Maharashtra.

Hundreds of people gathered at the cremation ground to pay their homage to the 36-year-old soldier of Maratha Light Infantry, who was martyred in Poonch sector of Jammu and Kashmir on the wee hours of Tuesday.

Cries of "Bharat Mata ki Jai" filled the air as the gun salute reverberated before the funeral pyre was lit.

Earlier, military officers, Maharashtra Home Minister R R Patil, BJP leader Gopinath Munde paid their tribute by laying floral wreaths on Mane's body.

Officers of the Southern Command had paid their respects to the martyr when the body arrived at Pune airport from Delhi late last night before being transported to Kolhapur by road.