Dev Kumar had plans to retire in two months after his return from Afghanistan. On Saturday, his body was cremated with full state honours at his Mohammad Ahirpur village, about 35 km from Gurgaon. An ITBP jawan stationed in Afghanistan for the past two years, Kumar had completed 20 years of service in the military in May this year. He died during a Taliban suicide attack in Afghanistan on June 5 where he was part of the BRO project constructing the Zaranj-Delaram highway.

Speaking to The Sunday Express, Ram Avtar, Kumar’s elder brother who had gone to identify the body and brought it home on Saturday afternoon, said: “His Commanding Officer who was present at the airport had only good words to say about him. The officer told me that my brother had saved five lives while losing his own.”

Recounting the account given to him of the incident, Ram Avtar said, “My brother was sitting in the front seat of the truck when he saw a suspicious looking man walking towards them. He told the driver to move out of his way and warned everyone in the truck to get off, but as they were trying to move the bomber came close and blew himself up. I am proud of my brother’s martyrdom though I wonder how the family will survive now.”

Among those who attended his cremation were 45 jawans from his battalion, six local policemen and Naib Tahsildar. “All we want is that the Government recognise our brother’s worth. They should name the senior secondary school in the village after him, provide for his family and erect a martyrdom statue at the spot where he was cremated,” said Ram Krishan, Kumar’s cousin.

... contd.