Lance Naik Manoj Phogat, who was martyred due to a gunshot injury while serving on the Punjab border, was cremated with full military honours in his native village Samaspur, located in Haryana’s Charkhi Dadri district. The 34-year-old soldier, posted with the Grenadier unit in Kapurthala, Punjab, was fatally shot shortly after returning to duty on May 4 following a short leave.
His mortal remains were brought to his ancestral village where hundreds of villagers, relatives, and military personnel gathered to pay their final respects. The atmosphere was filled with emotion and pride as slogans of “Bharat Mata Ki Jai” and “Shaheed Amar Rahein” echoed through the village during the final rites.
In a deeply moving moment, Manoj’s 5-year-old son, Prince, saluted his father and lit the funeral pyre, evoking tears and reverence among those present. His mother, Santosh Devi, holding back her grief, said, “It is the dream of every soldier to sacrifice his life for the country. I am proud that he has died for the motherland.”
Lance Naik Manoj Phogat was the only son of Ranbir Singh and is survived by his mother Santosh Devi, wife Rekha, and two children. His father and sister had passed away earlier, making the loss even more poignant for the family.
Prominent political leaders including Haryana’s Irrigation Minister Shruti Chaudhry, Bhiwani-Mahendragarh MP Dharambir Singh, and Dadri MLA Suneel Sangwan attended the last rites and offered condolences to the grieving family.
The cremation ceremony, conducted with full military protocol, served as a solemn tribute to the bravery and sacrifice of Lance Naik Manoj Phogat, whose life and service will be remembered by the nation.
