Lt-Col V R Chouhan cremated in Jabalpur

Jabalpur, July 2 (UNI) Lieutenant-Colonel Vinay Rao Chouhan of 15 Rashtriya Rifles, who died in the line of duty during an anti-insurgency operation in Jammu and Kashmir on June 30, was cremated with full military honours at this cantonment town today.

The body, draped in the tricolour, was conveyed by road from Bhopal to the Officers' Colony within the cantonment here. The last rites were conducted at the Gwarighat cremation ground on the bank of the Narmada in the presence of Army officers, jawans, political leaders and commoners.

Along the route to Gwarighat, people showered flowers and garlands on the marty. Madhya Pradesh Assembly Speaker Ishwardas Rohani, Mayor Susheela Singh, MLAs Harendrajeet Singh Babbu, Anchal Sonkar, Collector Sanjay Dubey, Superintendent of Polie D Srinivas Rao and several other officials were part of the funeral procession.

The pyre was lit by the deceased's minor son Hriday. Earlier, Lt-Col Chouhan was given a guard of honour and a 21-gun salute.

Tributes were paid by General Officer Commanding, Madhya Bharat Area Maj Gen Ashok Khosla, station commander Brigadier A M Prakash, and commandants of the Jammu and Kashmir Rifles Regimental Centre, Grenadiers Regimental Centre and the Corps of Signals.

Health Minister Ajay Vishnoi placed a wreath, on behalf of the Madhya Pradesh government, Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan paid his condolences in person to the bereaved family on June 30 and announced assistance of Rs 10 lakh.

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