Agojar (Dharamsala), July 15: A small and quite hamlet in the lap of Shivalik hills near Palampur was today buzzing with activity. Army men from the Dogra Regiment were present in a large number to receive martyr Karam Chand Katoch whose mortal remains were recovered from Walong in Arunachal Pradesh after about 48 years.
The two-storey house of Karam Chand was packed with visitors jostling with each other to catch a glimpse of the wooden box in which mortal remains of the martyr were kept.
Wife of Karam Chand’s brother Beena Kumari and his nephew Jaswant Singh, who is serving in Paramilitary Force (SSB), were carrying out religious ceremonies.
Since in the past 48 years most of the kin and acquaintances close to Karam Chand had passed away, there were a few to shed tears at his death.
Dulo Ram, a 95-year-old retired havaldar from the Dogra Regiment, with eclipsed memories, was the only one who remembered how he got Karam Chand recruited in the Army. He talked about valour of his regiment and how they fought the Chinese in Walong in the 1962 war.
The body was carried in a military vehicle to the cremation ground, located about 1 km from the village. Thousands of villagers, including IPH Minister Ravinder Ravi, followed the procession. Various Army officers, including Lt-Gen Jasbir Singh Col of the Dogra Regiment, Maj General Amarjit Singh, GOC, 39 Mountain Division and Lt-Gen SS Sangra (retd) laid wreathes on the coffin.
Later, while addressing the media, Lt-Gen Jasbir Singh said Karam Chand was a brave soldier who died serving the nation.
On July 1 this year, due to incessant rains, a massive landslide took place near Walong. While cleaning the earth, Border Road Task Force (BRTF) labourers found a circular identity disc and a silver ring. The identity disc was found to be that of Sepoy Karam Chand of 4 Dogra Regiment. Unit of the Sikh Regiment dug out all area and recovered a fountain pen, cover of a pay book and parts of skeleton of Karam Chand. The remains were handed over to the Dogra Regiment with full military honours that further contacted the kin of the martyr at Agojar village. The mother, father and brother of Karam Chand had passed away. He is survived by wife of his brother and her family.
Lt-Gen Jasbir Singh said since no immediate kin of Karam Chand was alive, compensation could not be given to anybody. The name of Karam Chand would, however, be entered on the list of martyrs at Walong and Dharamsala.
1962 war hero's body identified after 48 years
TINSUKIA/ITANAGAR: The Army on Thursday identified the skull and bones of a jawan found in Arunachal Pradesh recently to be that of Sepoy Karam Chand of the 4 Dogra Regiment.
Arunachal government officials said labourers engaged in the restoration of Hayuliang-Walong road unearthed a disc badge, a silver ring and a rusted .303 ammunition on July 1. The disc badge bearing PIS No 3950976 belonged to the jawan. This was confirmed after verification with the martyrs' list of the 1962 India-China war.
The Army, in a statement, said Karam Chand was one of the unsung heroes missing since November 1962 after the Battle of Walong. A Border Road Task Force party, while clearing a landslide area, recovered two identity discs belonging to the soldier near Walong in Arunachal, said the Army. Sikh Regiment personnel recovered Chand's mortal remains along with personal belongings on July 5, after four days of digging in the landslide area under inclement weather conditions.
The mortal remains — along with identity discs of the soldier, a silver ring, a dilapidated cover of Soldier's Pay Book and a fountain pen recovered from the site — were handed over to the 4 Dogra Regiment on Thursday by Sikh Regiment commanding officer with military honours at the Hut of Remembrance at Walong.
The Army said, "The 48-year-long sleep and sojourn of Sepoy Karam Chand on the banks of the Lohit river ended on July 9, as his remains started from Walong for the place where the ashes of his fathers and the temples of his Gods are located. With the last rites of the soldier to be performed later at his native place Gogar, Palampur in Himachal Pradesh, his soul will finally rest in peace."
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