People Pay Tribute to Army Major Killed in Pulwama Encounter

Major Dhoundiyal, a resident of Dehradun, was among the four Army men killed in an encounter with JeM terrorists.

Wife Nitika Kaul of Major Vibhuti Shankar Dhoundiyal, who was martyred in Pulwama encounter with Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) terrorists, mourn near his mortal remains which were brought to his home in Dehradun on Monday. 

(Photo: PTI)

Video Editor: Varun Sharma

People in Dehradun on Tuesday, 19 February, paid their last respects to Major Vibhuti Shankar Dhoundiyal, who was killed in the Pulwama encounter in Jammu and Kashmir.

On Monday, 18 February, Major Dhoundiyal (34) was among the four Army men killed in an encounter with terrorists in Pulwama district, a short distance away from the spot where 40 CRPF personnel were killed in an attack by JeM. The security personnel killed in Monday’s encounter belonged to 55 Rashtriya Rifles (RR).

Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat on Tuesday expressed grief and said the entire country stands with the martyr's family.

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat placed a wreath on the coffin amid cries of "Shaheed Dhoundiyal Amar Rahein" and "Vande Mataram."

While some people had climbed onto rooftops, some stood on either side of the road leading to the officer's residence.

Major Dhoundiyal's mortal remains were brought home draped in the Tricolour late on Monday night. The funeral will be done with full military honours in Haridwar on Tuesday evening.

Prominent among those who came to pay their last respects Major Dhoundiyal were state Cabinet minister Satpal Maharaj, ex-MP Tarun Vijay, Assembly Speaker Premchand Agarwal, BJP MLA Ganesh Joshi and Dehradun Mayor Sunil Uniyal Gama.

Married For Less Than a Year

Youngest among the four siblings, Dhoundiyal had joined the Army in 2011 and had spent most of his service years in Jammu and Kashmir.

He was “simple, had no arrogance, and was very respectful,” his neighbour Suman Kala was quoted as saying by The Indian Express. “He married only last year. It is not even a year and he’s gone forever,” Kala said.

Dhoundiyal has three sisters. His father Omprakash Dhoundiyal was a controller defence account officer and had passed away in 2012, reported Dainik Jagran.

The Army Major’s mother Saroj Devi was not informed about his death till late on Monday as she is a cardiac patient. “Army officers first spoke with her in the evening,” The Times of India quoted a family member as saying.

Dhoundiyal was married in April last year. His wife Nikita Kaul got to know about his death while she was travelling to Delhi to visit her parents on Monday.

The Army Major had studied at the St Joseph’s Academy in Dehradun till Class 10 and then moved to Pine Hall School, as per the report. Before joining the Army, he had completed a BSc degree from DAV PG College.