It has exactly been 13 days that he and his friends had gone missing at Himachal Pradesh, while on a patrol duty in Indo-China border. As the army truck stops in front of his house, loud wails and cries emanate.

It’s not only Govind’s family, but his entire neighbourhood who stand crying. They are still unable to believe, their favourite son is not coming back in person.

A massive crowd gathered at Binnaguri Football Ground, where people from all walks of life are assembled to pay their last respects.

Present are Binnaguri and Sukna GCO along with an array of Army officials. Conspicuously absent are the Alipurduar District Administrative Officials – representatives of the Govt of West Bengal, none of whom took time out to pay their respects. The only attending official is Banarhat Police IC.

The homage to the Martyr who died while making sure our borders were safe lasted for nearly 3 hours. School children, teachers, social workers, friends, neighbours completely unknown strangers were assembled.

After the homage,  a rally started from the Binnaguri Football Ground, with the air resonating with the cries of “Bharat Mata ko Jai”… “Govind Chettri amar rahos…”

As the rally progressed, the General Officer-in-Command went to the family members and talked to them, and said, ‘we are all with you, the entire armed forces are with you. Your son became a sahid for the country, we will not forget him… if ever you face any problems, please come to me…”

He hoped Govind’s son joins as an officer in the Indian army in the future.

Gradually Govind’s body was taken to Gairkata river, and with each minute, the rally of people standing on both sides of the road in respect of the martyr kept on getting longer, and chants of “Bharat Mata ki Jai” kept on getting louder.

This is the legacy of a martyr, they inspire the whole nation to unite.

We extend our heartfelt gratitude to the family members of Sahid Govind Chettri, it is their sacrifices that has helped made our country safer. We also stand with them in their hour of grief. May Gods grant them strength to overcome this terrible loss.

#JaiHind #JaiGorkha

Special Report: Nand Poudel

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Rifleman Govind Bahadur Chettri along with four of his comrades from 7 JAK Rifles – Naik Videsh Chand, Rifleman Rajesh Rishi, Rifleman Arjun Kumar and Rifleman Nitin Rana, have been missing since the 22^nd of February, 2019 after an avalanche stuck Namgia Dogri area of Kinnaur district of Himachal Pradesh.

Govind Bahadur Chettri a resident of DS Colony in Binnaguri. His family members have informed us that he had last come home during Diwali, and was supposed to come on a leave again in March. He is the only earning member of his family, and has two children 1.5-yrs-old son Akshay and a 6-month-old daughter, along with a wife and an aging parents.

His wife Menuka is stressed beyond what a normal person can endure, but she is struggling to hold the family together. “Wasn’t my husband and his friends serving the nation too? Aren’t their being missing worthy of mention in any news? Shouldn’t our nation stand together and pray for their safe return too?” she questions with tears in her eyes.

We request all our readers to kindly join us in praying for the safe return of our jawans.

The post The Forgotten Bravehearts – Bring home Govind Bahadur Chettri and friends appeared first on The Darjeeling Chronicle.