Tributes paid to soldier killed in Jammu gunfight

Jammu, May 22 (IANS) A wreath-laying ceremony was Thursday held in Pune to honour a soldier killed while fighting terrorists on the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir May 18, an army official said.

Sepoy Bhikale Uttam Balu of the Maratha Light Infantry was killed near the LoC in Nathua Tibba area of Akhnoor sector in Jammu district.

A ceremony was held in Pune, Maharashtra, Thursday where homage was paid to the mortal remains of the soldier, defence spokesman Col. Manish Mehta told IANS in Jammu.

The last rites were later performed at his native place Kolhapur. Tributes were paid by the deputy commandant, Maratha Regimental Centre, and a large number of senior officers and junior commissioned officers.

The station commander of Akhnoor garrison and other senior officers paid homage to the soldier in Akhnoor May 19.

The mortal remains were then sent to Pune for the last rites.