SAMBA -- Mortal remains of Lance Naik Mool Raj were today consigned to flames with full military honours at his native village in the district.
Mool Raj was such a man who always wanted to be in the thick of action, the family said.
Mool Raj, father of two had fallen to the bullets of terrorists in Pathankot, just a day after he returned to join his duties after celebrating the New Year with his family which consists his aged mother, wife and two college going children.
Before returning to his duties in Pathankot, he took a promise from his children that one day they would make him feel proud.
"Instead he made us proud! Though the lacuna that his absence has created in our life will never be fulfilled, but we are proud to have a father like him", said Asish Kumar son of Mool Raj.
Mool Raj, who had joined the Defence Security Corps (DSC) after his retirement from the army 13 years ago, was one amongst the seven brave martyrs who laid down their lives while fighting the terrorists who attacked the Air Force base in Pathankot.
Thousands of people from various parts of Jammu region including the State Minister for Industries, Chander Prakash Ganga, senior Congress leader and former minister Manjeet Singh, senior Army, Police and Air Force officers, today bid their final adieu to the brave son of the soil.
"He was home to celebrate the New Year with his family and returned to join his duties in Pathankot on 1 January, who knew this would be his last visit," Pawan Kumar, younger brother of the slain soldier said.
Amidst moist eyes the body of the fallen warrior was confined to fire with full military honours.
"You laid down your life for the nation...we are proud of you papa", Pooja Devi his daughter, a college student, cried as she gave a shoulder to the body of her father.
"I am proud of you dad and want that every child should get a brave father like you," she said.
The martyrdom of their father has not shattered their resolve to do big in life as the brother and sister duo want to emulate the footsteps of their father and serve the motherland.
"Our father always wanted us to do something big in life, we will follow his footsteps and join the army and serve the motherland as our father did in his life and his death", Ashish said.
Gayatri Devi, the widow of the fallen warrior, says that she has been lucky to have married a man who never backed away from his duties and served his motherland till his last breath.
"Earlier he belonged to us, but now he belongs to the entire nation. I am proud of him that he laid down his life to save the lives of 1.25 billion people of this nation," she said.
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