Tributes & gun salute to Alipurduar soldier - Hundreds of people, including politicians, gather to bid farewell to martyr

Add caption

Anirban Choudhury, TT, 20.06.20, Alipurduar: Hundreds gathered to pay tributes to Bipul Roy, a 34-year-old havildar of the Indian army, here on Friday.

On June 15, Bipul had laid his life during a clash with Chinese troops in the Galwan Valley in Ladakh. On Friday, his mortal remains reached his home and the last rites were conducted with full state honours.

The body had reached the Air Force Station in Hasimara, located around 50km from his home, on Thursday night. Bipul’s wife Rumpa and daughter Tamanna — they were away in Meerut — arrived at the Bagdogra airport and were taken to Bindipara by the administration.

Bengal tourism minister Gautam Deb, along with administrative and police officials and Alipurduar MLA Sourav Chakraborty, reached the Air Force Station on Friday afternoon and paid homage to Bipul.

Hundreds of people had gathered outside the Air Force Station along NH31C to bid a farewell to the martyr. A group of BJP leaders, including two MPs and an MLA, reached the village and spoke to the bereaved family and waited for the motorcade that had left Hasimara.

Around 5.45pm, the motorcade carrying Bipul’s body in a coffin reached the village. It was placed on a dais at the local primary school ground.

Nanibala Sarkar, 76, was among the people who paid tributes to the soldier. “I have been waiting since 11am to see Bipul. I remember those days when he used to play with my sons on the campus of our house,” said the septuagenarian.

The mortal remains were shifted to the bank of the Gadadhar river around 7.15pm. The army offered a gun salute to the slain soldier, after which he was cremated.

“Thousands had come to bid farewell to my brother. We want the Centre to act against China,” said Bakul, Bipul’s brother.