Udupi (Karnataka), Dec 26: Lance Havaldar Anoop Poojary (33), who died in an army vehicle accident in Poonch, Jammu and Kashmir, was cremated with full state and military honours in his native village of Beejady in Udupi district on Thursday.

Anoop, serving with the 11 Maratha Light Infantry Regiment, lost his life along with four other soldiers in the accident on Tuesday evening.

His remains were received at Mangaluru International Airport on Thursday morning. The body was then transported to Beejady, where crowds lined the streets to offer their tributes.

At key road intersections, villagers, schoolchildren, and dignitaries, including Udupi Additional Deputy Commissioner Mamatha Devi G S and Additional SP S T Siddalingappa, paid homage to the soldier.

Anoop's family members, including his mother Chandu Poojarthi and wife Manjushree were inconsolable.

Anoop joined the Indian Army 13 years ago after completing his pre-university education. Known for his bravery and dedication, he primarily served in Jammu and Kashmir and Manipur during his career.

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New Delhi (PTI): Union Minister for Women and Child Development Annpurna Devi on Tuesday expressed her anguish over the alleged gang rape of a girl in Tamil Nadu and urged the National Commission for Women to take immediate cognisance of the matter.

In a post on X, Devi said, "Deeply anguished by this horrific incident. I urge the NCW to take immediate cognisance and act swiftly in coordination with the concerned authorities to ensure the strictest action against all culprits."

Devi said, "Justice must be swift and unsparing — the accused must be brought to book without delay," adding, "the safety, dignity, and justice of every daughter of India remain our highest priority."

"We stand firmly with the survivor and her family in this difficult hour," she said.

Reacting to a post by former Tamil Nadu BJP president K Annamalai, who flagged concerns over the law and order situation in the state, Devi said such incidents "expose grave concerns" under the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam government.

Annamalai, in his post, alleged that a 15-year-old girl from Kanchipuram, who had come to participate in a temple festival near Seyyaru in Tiruvannamalai district, was gangraped.

He said the incident was "deeply shocking and enraging" to him and alleged that such crimes point to a "complete failure" of law and order in Tamil Nadu.

Annamalai demanded immediate arrest of all those involved and the "harshest punishments" for the accused.

He also called for full protection and mental health counselling for the survivor and her family.