Although his 45-year-old father Gurcharan Singh remained poised, grief and anguish over his son's demise was apparant. His mother, Surjit Kaur, was inconsolable as she remembered Manjit as a child.

Although the family had learnt of the tragedy in the morning, the body was still to reach the village till late evening. And each moment's wait was agonising for the family and relatives as women wept and men tried to console each other.

"Had he died in a war, it would have been a matter of pride for us," Gurcharan said. "But this is no war and it is just bringing grief to numerous families," he added. Manjit had joined the Army one year and four months ago.

Himself injured in a road accident two months back which resulted in his left leg being paralysed, Gurcharan said that Manjit had left home on May 25 to rejoin his unit after a spell of leave.

Manjit's elder brother, who reached here this morning, is also serving in the Army, while his younger brother is a school student.

Manjit's uncle, Jaswinder Singh, who is posted with an armoured unit in Patiala, proudly said that a large number of family members are in the forces. Even Manjit's 82-year old grandfather, Sardar Singh, who was also present there, is a World War II veteran, having served in Europe and spent time in Germany as a prisoner of war. "Over 30 per cent of the youngsters in the village join the Army," he added.

The news of Manjit's death was conveyed to the family today morning. Before a JCO and two other jawans reached his native place to convey the tragic news, an officer from his unit had already called an ex-servicemen settled in an adjoining village, who then intimated the family. Manjit Singh will be cremated with full military honours tomorrow.