ARMY HONOURS Bugler played last post as his sons lit the funeral pyre

From page 1 HOSHIARPUR: World War-2 veteran Colonel Daljit Singh Randhawa (retd), 96, who passed away on Friday, was cremated with full military honours at the Hariana Road cremation ground at a hugely attended ceremony. Bugler played the last post as his sons Col Jasjit Singh Randhawa and Major Amanjit Singh Randhawa lit the funeral pyre.

HT PHOTOArmy officers paying last respects to late Col Daljit Singh Randhawa in Hoshiarpur on Saturday.

A number of serving and retired army officers, including 11 Corps Jalandhar commander Lt Gen J S Cheema, Brigadier SPS Aulakh, Brigadier Anil and Colonel Vikas, Maj Gen (retd) O P Parmar, Brig Surjit Singh, Col Mohinder Singh, Ex-Servicemen League Jalandhar’s Col HS Sangha and Col Jagmohan had gathered to mourn his death.

Sub-divisional magistrate Barjinder Singh attended the ceremony on behalf of the state government and placed a wreath on the body. Major (retd) Yash Pal Singh paid respects on behalf of the director, sainik welfare.

The family wanted to perform the last rites in Phuglana village on the HoshiarpurPhagwara road, where late Military Cross awardee had spent a good period of his retired life with his wife Satwant Kaur, but due to rain, they had to opt for a cremation place near their home in Model Town. Col Randhawa was allotted land in Phuglana for his distinguished military services.

“He always cherished his military background and was very proud that seven generations of his family had served in the army,” said his sons.

Col Randhawa was born in Montgomery (now in Pakistan). His family had migrated to Indian Punjab after Partition. Colonel Randhawa’s two sons, Colonel Jasjit and Major Amanjit, also served in the army and his grandson too is a senior military officer