Soldier Anoop Poojary cremated at Beejady

Mangalore Today News Network

Kundapur, December 27, 2024: Lance Havaldar Anoop Poojary who died in a road accident at Mendhar in Jammu and Kashmir on Tuesday was cremated at his native place in Beejady, near Kundapur in Udupi district on Thursday.

He was among five soldiers who died when the Army vehicle by which they were travelling fell into a deep gorge in Mendhar. 

Udupi-Chikkamagaluru MP Kota Srinivas Poojary and Dakshina Kannada MP Capt. Brijesh Chowta received the body, brought via Belagavi, at Mangaluru International Airport early on the day.

Hundreds of people joined when the body was taken out in a procession from Thekkatte to Kundapur on the NH66 and later to Beejady, a beachside village.

People cheered “Bholo Bharath Maata Ki Jai ”and ‘‘Anoop Poojary Amar Rahe, Amar Rahe’’ along the route of the procession and at junctions where people paid their last respects to the deceased soldier.  

As the mortal remains were brought to Government Primary School in Beejady Padu around 12.30 pm, hundreds of villagers, school children had arrived by then to pay their last respect.

In addition to Kota Srinivas Poojary, former MP K Jayaprakash Hegde, Udupi Additional Deputy Commissioner G. S. Mamatha Devi, Additional Superintendent of Police S.T. Siddalingappa visited the house of the soldier and paid their last respect.

Soldier’s mother Chandu, his wife Manjushree were inconsolable. Anoop Poojary also leaves behind his one-and-a-half-year-old daughter Eshanvi and two elder sisters. 

He was cremated with State and military honors near his home.

Anoop Poojary had joined the Indian Army 13 years ago. He served in the 11 Maratha Light Infantry Regiment.