On his 48th birthday, Hawaldar Nimb Singh Rawat, posted with 6 Bihar regiment, was cremated with state honours on Tuesday. Rawat was among the 19 soldiers who were martyred following the attack at battalion headquarters of 10 Dogra regiment in Uri on Sunday.

He is survived by his wife Rodi Devi: four daughters Payal, Deepika, Asha and Lata; and son Chandan Singh, who is only 8 years old.

Thousands of villagers became mute spectators when his body reached his village Rajwa 30 km from Bhim, Rajsamand district at 8 am. After the final rituals were conducted at his house around 11am, his body was moved to the cremation ground approximately 800 metres from the house in an open ground. According to Defence PRO, Lt Col Manish Ojha, “After wreath laying, the body was taken for antim sanskar where the police did the firing and drill of last post. About 70,000 people were present at the cremation ground”.  Many political leaders, former defence personnels, social workers and civilians were present.

Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje and Rajasthan Home Minister Gulab Chand Kataria skipped the martyr’s cremation in Rajsamand.

While defending himself, Kataria told the media, “The government has many other important works to do and is not free (idle) like Congress president Sachin Pilot who attended the last rites.”  However, the Rajasthan government was represented at the cremation by PHED minister Kiran Maheshwari.