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.

Get all the latest, breaking news from Mangaluru and Dakshina Kannada in a single click. CLICK HERE to get all the latest news from Mangaluru.

Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.



Pune (PTI): NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar on Tuesday claimed that BJP leaders routinely respond whenever Congress MP Rahul Gandhi questions the Election Commission's functioning, fuelling "mistrust" in the poll panel.

Responding to a question on Rahul Gandhi's criticism of the Election Commission of India over alleged "vote chori", Pawar said Gandhi and other Opposition leaders have raised key issues about the ECI's functioning.

"When Gandhi, the leader of opposition (in the Lok Sabha), raised the issue in Parliament, the institution concerned should have taken note of it. But what is happening is that when Gandhi raises questions and criticises the ECI, the ECI does not answer - it is the BJP and its leaders who respond," he told reporters here.

Instead of the Election Commission, the chief minister and other leaders are responding to such issues, the former Union minister noted.

"By doing this, they are actually contributing to the mistrust about the ECI, which is not good," he added.

Sharpening his attack on the issue of “vote chori” (vote theft), Gandhi last week accused Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar of protecting those who destroyed democracy.

To buttress his allegation, the leader of the opposition cited data from two assembly constituencies in Karnataka and Maharashtra, where he claimed voters were deleted/added in a fraudulent manner.

The Election Commission has dubbed the allegations as incorrect and baseless, and said, “No deletion of any vote can be done online by any member of the public, as misconceived by Gandhi.”