Not even the funeral of the late doyen of Meghalaya politics, Captain W A Sangma, had drawn so many people.

Government offices, educational institutions and business establishments remained closed to enable people to pay their tributes to the war hero.

Top officials from the government, military, police and paramilitary forces mingled with students from different schools and colleges at the Fire Brigade ground, waiting to place a wreath on the brave soldier's coffin. The ground was also awash with placards, held by school students. If one said ``May God bless all women with sons like Clifford,'' another thanked the brave soldier for ``sacrificing your today, so we could live our tomorrow''. The lateCaptain's parents and two brothers watched from a specially constructed dais for them.

His 42-year old mother, Saily Nongrum, was a picture of mixed emotions. Though proud of the supreme sacrifice her son had made for the country, she couldn't hide her sadness at losing him. Her only hope was that her young son's death wouldn't go in vain, that it would instill a sense of patriotism and duty towards the nation among the youth of the state. Saily Nongrum also wished that the spirit of togetherness that the war had forged in the nation would live on after it was won, bringing together people from all communities.

K Geoffrey Nongrum, 27, hoped the sacrifice of his younger brother would inspire others to join the Army and serve the nation, particularly at a time like this. He said in his last conversation with Captain Nongrum, the latter had told him he could die in the Kargil operation but that they shouldn't feel sad as he would bring honour to them and the state.

LUCKNOW: In the other end of thecountry, Lucknow too was the site of an unprecedented funeral. Thousands of people came to pay their respects to Captain Manoj Pandey, who died in the fight for Tiger Hill.

The loudspeaker put up at the park near his home, where his body was kept for people to pay their respect for three hours, recounted his tale of bravery at frequent intervals. Leading a team of soldiers in the assault carried out at night at a height of 18,000 feat, Pandey and his men destroyed two enemy bunkers. However, as they were forging ahead, a bullet hit Pandey in the head and he was killed on the spot.

All the shops in the area remained shut on Thursday as people, ignoring the sweltering weather, lined up at the Gomti Nagar park to pay their homage to the local hero. Slogans of ``Manoj Pandey amar rahe'' rent the air, mingling with the immortal Aye mere watan ke loge playing over the loudspeaker.

When the truck carrying his coffin started its journey to the cremation ground, thousands followed it. An equal number werewaiting at the cremation ground, while others were perched on rooftops, trees and other vantage points for a glimpse. The Governor, Chief Minister, police chief and a number of administrative and Army officials were present to pay their last respects. Armymen saluted Pandey by firing in the air.

A childhood friend who Pandey had written to from the front later said: ``History will remember him for setting standards of life. His sacrifice for the nation will be remembered by generations to come''.

SOLDHA (JHAJJAR): The remains of 34-year-old Naik Ram Pal of 9 Mahar regiment, who laid down his life in the Kargil battle, were consigned to flames with full military honours at his native village here on Thurday.

Thousands of mourners, including women and children from adjoining villages, converged to the newly created cremation ground and touching scenes were witnessed as Pal's eldest son, 12-year-old Sandeep, lit the pyre.

Naik Pal and his fellow jawans were assigned the job of recapturing HanifPost in Turtuk sub-sector at a height of over 14,000 feet. They killed five Pakistanis before Naik Pal fell to enemy fire on July 4.

Putting up a brave face, his mother said she was proud of her son. Pal's eight-year-old son echoed this, asserting: ``My father died fighting the enemy''. Pal also has a 10-year-old daughter, Suman.

In a gesture of solidarity towards the martyr's family, the Saldha panchayat has donated four bighas of land to it, and it was here that the cremation was performed today. Later, a monument will come up here in Pal's memory.