Lance Naik Manoj Phogat, a soldier who sacrificed his life while stationed on the Punjab border, was cremated with full military honors in his native village of Samaspur, located in the Charkhi Dadri district of Haryana. The 34-year-old soldier, serving with the Grenadier unit in Kapurthala, Punjab, tragically died from a gunshot wound shortly after returning to duty on May 4 following a brief leave.
His mortal remains were transported to his ancestral village, where a large gathering of villagers, relatives, and military personnel came together to honor his memory. The atmosphere during the final rites was charged with emotion and pride, as chants of “Bharat Mata Ki Jai” and “Shaheed Amar Rahein” resonated throughout the village.
A particularly heart-wrenching moment occurred when Manoj’s 5-year-old son, Prince, saluted his father and lit the funeral pyre, stirring tears and deep reverence among all attendees. His mother, Santosh Devi, despite her overwhelming sorrow, expressed her pride, stating, “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 leaves behind his mother, Santosh Devi, his wife, Rekha, and two children. The family’s grief was compounded by the earlier losses of Manoj’s father and sister, making this tragedy even more profound.
In attendance at the cremation were prominent political figures including Haryana’s Irrigation Minister Shruti Chaudhry, Bhiwani-Mahendragarh MP Dharambir Singh, and Dadri MLA Suneel Sangwan, who offered condolences to the grieving family.
The ceremony, conducted with full military protocol, served as a solemn tribute to the bravery and sacrifice of Lance Naik Manoj Phogat, ensuring that his legacy will live on in the hearts of the nation.
