Army Reaches Martyr’s Home by Autorickshaw to Honour Kargil Hero

Army Reaches Martyr’s Home by Autorickshaw to Honour Kargil Hero

Despite Odds Indian Army Never Forgets Heroes

CNB World Times

Bhadrak, Odisha, July 13 – In a heartfelt and symbolic gesture, a team from the Indian Army reached the residence of Kargil War martyr Niranjan Behera in an autorickshaw to honour his family, overcoming the challenge of a statewide transport strike in Odisha.

The visit comes ahead of the nationwide commemoration of the 25th Kargil Vijay Diwas, marking a quarter-century since the 1999 Kargil War between India and Pakistan. Niranjan Behera, a proud son of Odisha, was the 9th martyr from the state and the only martyr from the district Bhadrak to lay down his life during the war.

The Army team met with Behera’s wife, Sandhyarani Behera, and other family members at their village home. They enquired about the family’s well-being and honoured them with a ‘Veeron Ko Naman’ medal and a formal citation in recognition of Behera's supreme sacrifice. The soldiers also engaged in heartfelt conversations on social matters and the struggles faced by the martyr’s family over the years.

Despite the autorickshaw being an unusual mode of transport for army personnel, the soldiers’ determination touched the hearts of the villagers. With public transport completely halted due to the ongoing drivers' strike, their effort was seen as a mark of deep respect. “I feel proud and grateful. The Army coming all the way despite the hurdles shows their true commitment,” said an emotional Sandhyarani Behera.

However, the visit also cast a shadow over the continued neglect of the martyr’s cremation ground, which remains abandoned and undeveloped even after 25 years. Locals have long demanded the development of the site into a memorial complex with a library and park to honour Behera’s legacy. The army team expressed surprise and dissatisfaction over the district administration’s apathy and assured the family that they would escalate the matter to higher authorities.

Villagers echoed the sentiment, stating that only during annual events like Kargil Vijay Diwas do officials and politicians turn up to lay wreaths and take photographs. “The rest of the year, the place and his sacrifice are forgotten,” said a local elder.

The army’s visit has rekindled hope in the community that long-pending demands—like repairing the broken road to the martyr’s memorial site and developing the memorial site near his village Panguda in Chandbali block—will finally be addressed. For now, their presence has served as a powerful reminder of the honour and gratitude a nation owes its fallen heroes.