Villagers from Mettur demanded respect from the government for soldier Kamlesh’s body, who died in an army camp in Bathinda, Punjab. After four hours of protesting, the body was taken in a procession in an army vehicle. Four soldiers lost their lives in the firing that took place on the morning of the 13th at an army camp in Bathinda, Punjab. Two soldiers from Tamil Nadu, Kamlesh and Yogesh Kumar, were among the deceased. Kamlesh’s body was flown from Punjab to Coimbatore, then taken to Vanavasi village near his hometown Mettur in an army ambulance. The family, relatives, and villagers were disappointed that the government would not honor the deceased soldier Kamlesh despite making various arrangements at home for the soldiers. Villagers and relatives protested, claiming that the government should honor the deceased soldier Kamlesh and requested that the body be transported in an army vehicle. The protest lasted for four hours, and more than 200 youths participated, causing disruption in traffic. Later, the villagers brought an army vehicle from Erode to transport the body, and after paying respects to the soldier, Kamlesh was cremated in a nearby cemetery. The government stated that honors would only be given if he died fighting in the army, as his cause of death was not due to fighting.
Mettur: Villagers sit in front of the vehicle and sit in front of the vehicle demanding government respect to the body of soldier Kamlesh, who died in the army camp in Bathinda, Punjab. As a result, after 4 hours, the body was taken in a procession in an army vehicle.
4 soldiers tragically lost their lives in the firing that took place on the morning of the 13th at an army camp in Bathinda, Punjab. In this, 2 soldiers namely Kamlesh from Banangat near Mettur Vanavasi in Salem district of Tamil Nadu and Yogesh Kumar from Theni district died. Post-mortem examination was conducted on the soldiers who died in this situation yesterday and they were sent to their hometowns.
Kamlesh’s body from Salem was flown from Punjab to Coimbatore. There the soldier was felicitated by a garland of flowers. From there, he was taken to Vanavasi village near his hometown Mettur in an army ambulance at 1 o’clock.
In the meantime, they were making various arrangements at home, thinking that they would be honored by the government. But the family, relatives and villagers were disgruntled knowing that the government would not honor them. Villagers and relatives staged a road blockade on the Mechery-Vanavasi main road in front of the ambulance that brought the body, claiming that the government should honor the deceased soldier Kamlesh. They also protested that the body should be taken away in an army vehicle.
Meanwhile, the youth of the village got into a heated argument with the police. Due to this, the traffic on the road was affected for more than 4 hours. Subsequently, more than 200 youth participated in the protest and there was a commotion. Vehicles were diverted due to traffic disruption.
Later, the villagers accepted the request and brought an army vehicle from Erode. At 4.20 pm, they took the body in a procession from Vanavasi area to the house in Panagat. Then, the public paid their respects by sprinkling flowers. After placing the body in the house, military officials, NCC officials, civilians and others paid their respects. Later, the national flag draped over his body was taken and given to his parents. Later, Kamlesh was cremated in a nearby cemetery. Mettur Tahsildar Muthuraja, Omalur DSP Sangeetha, Mettur DSP Vijayakumar were present.
When District Collector Karmegam was asked about this, he said, “Government honors will be given only if he died fighting in the army. Now, the army has said that his death is suspected to be death. The government has not given honors because his death was not due to fighting. But because he died while on duty, one of his family members has a job opportunity.”