IAF officers pay tributes to Lance Naik Om Parkash at the Chandigarh Air Force Station on Monday. A Tribune Photograph

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, February 22

The mortal remains of Lance Naik Om Parkash, who was killed while fighting with terrorists at Pampore on the outskirts of Srinagar yesterday, were airlifted to his native place near Shimla, today.The body was flown into Chandigarh in an IAF aircraft and then ferried by helicopter to Chail near Shimla in Himachal Pradesh. Floral tributes were paid to the fallen soldier at the Chandigarh Air Forces Station. Wreaths were laid on his coffin by Brig Hitesh Kohli from the Headquarters Western Command and Air Commodore A Saklani, Air Officer Commanding 12 Wing.Om Parkash and two other officers were killed during an attempt to neutralise terrorists who were holed up in a building. The sacrifices of Capt Pawan Kumar and Capt Tushar Mahajan, who were from the same unit and killed in the same operation, were also remembered with heavy hearts by those present. Capt Akash Pawar, Capt Sudhanshu Pani, Capt Harshit and Capt A. Baghel, the course mates of Capt Pawan Kumar who were on their way to Jind, shared their fond memories with tearful eyes. Capt Pawan belonged to Jind, where his last rites were held today with full military honours.