Body of martyred soldier Vaishakh reaches Thiruvananthapuram as dignitaries pay last respects

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The body of Vaishakh, a Malayali soldier who was martyred in a clash with terrorists in Poonch yesterday, was brought to the Thiruvananthapuram airport. Minister KN Balagopal paid his last respects on behalf of the state government. Thiruvananthapuram District Collector Navjyot Khosa, Kodikunnil Suresh MP, Army members and other dignitaries paid their last respects at the airport. Funeral services will be held in the afternoon after the public viewing.

Five soldiers, including an officer, were martyred in a clash with Pakistani militants in Poonch yesterday. The clash took place between the militants and the army as they tried to infiltrate the forest area in Poonch. Apart from Vaishakh, junior commissioned officers Jaswinder Singh, Naik Mandeep Singh, Sepoy Gajjan Singh and Sepoy Saraj Singh were also martyred.