Puri: Khandayat Sahi in Satyabadi’s Alaguma panchayat reverberated with cries of ‘Bharat Mata Ki Jai’ and ‘Debasish Biswal Amar Rahe’, as the Odia braveheart of the Indian Army and son of the soil was consigned to flames with full military honours.
Thousands of people from the jawan’s village and adjacent areas gathered at the funeral site to pay their respect to the departed soldier. Slogans lauding Debasish and anger against the terrorists for the dastardly act of cowardice rant the air, as the funeral pyre was lit.
The aura of patriotism emanating from the area was worth watching as the crowd hailed the supreme sacrifice of the Odia jawan who was laid to rest, wrapped in tricolour.
Debashish, who is survived by his wife and a 7-month-old baby girl, was to celebrate his first marriage anniversary on April 22 on the auspicious occasion of Akshaya Tritiya. He joined the Army in 2013.
The village was teary-eyed but proud of its brave son. “Although proud of him, we were shattered after hearing the news of his death,” said his grandfather Panchanan Biswal. “He was and will always be the pride of our village and our State,” Debasish’s brother Dilip Biswal.
Debashish (32) was among the five soldiers who were killed in the Poonch terror attack. Heart-rending scenes were witnessed at Alagum Khandayat Sahi when the mortal remains of the jawan reached the village.
The tragic death of Biswal has brought mourning and sorrow to the entire Satyabadi area. His friends, family, and fellow villagers have gathered to pay their respects to the fallen hero. The atmosphere was full of emotion as people embraced each other and wept for the loss of their beloved.
Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Friday expressed grief over the demise of the Odia jawan among the five security personnel killed in the Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir.
Naveen said: “It is too painful to learn about the martyrdom of brave Odia jawan Debashis Biswal at Poonch sector of J&K. His sacrifice for the nation will be remembered for all time to come. I convey my condolence to the family members of the great martyrs.”
The Chief Minister on Friday announced an ex gratia of Rs 25 lakh for the kin of the deceased Jawan and expressed deepest condolences for the family of Debasish.
The aforementioned terror attack occurred when the Army vehicle was moving from Bhimber Gali to Sangiot in Poonch. On Friday, security forces launched a massive search operation in the forests of the Bata-Doriya area of Poonch.
According to reports, as many as 14 persons have been detained in this connection. A preliminary investigation has revealed that the Army truck was carrying fruits and other items to a forward village for Iftar that was supposed to be hosted by the Army’s Rashtriya Rifles unit.
Also Read: Guard Of Honour For Odia Braveheart Debasish At Bhubaneswar Airport
