Friends, family pay homage to slain army officer

Ghaziabad, March 23 (IANS) The body of Major Mohit Sharma, killed in a gun battle with terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir Sunday, was brought to his home here Monday as the family and friends bid a tearful goodbye to the soldier.

Mohit, an officer with special forces 1 Para Commandos, was killed fighting militants in Hafrat forests in Kupwara.

His body was kept at his Rajendra Nagar home here for two-and-a-half hours and was later taken to the army cantonment in Delhi.

'I am proud of my son who laid down his life for the country. In every birth, I would want such a valiant person to be my son. He has held our heads high and defended the country's sovereignty,' said R.V. Sharma, the soldier's father.

'He was a very cheerful person and was very dynamic since his childhood. Mohit always nurtured a dream of serving his country and doing something big. Although his family was somewhat reluctant to send him to the army, he was keen to join the armed forces,' one of the relatives said.

Mohit's wife is also an army officer posted in Patiala in Punjab.