Navy soldier from Hanagal village martyred in Kochi due to accidental misfire of firearm

HAVERI: A serviceman with the Indian Navy was martyred while on duty in Kochi during training, due to a misfire, two days ago. His last rites were performed with full state honours at his native Uppunasi village in Hanagal taluk on Saturday.

Yashodhar Vaddar, son of Duragappa and his wife, had joined the Navy as a soldier in 2016. His family celebrated with great joy when their son joined the armed forces. He had been serving in the Navy for 10 years. But two days ago in Kochi, a bullet hit Yashodhar due to a misfire during training and he was martyred.

The mortal remains of the deceased soldier were brought to the village around 7 am on Saturday. As soon as the soldier’s body arrived in the village, the villagers were moved to tears. Later, the soldier’s body was kept for public viewing at the government high school in the village. Thousands of people including villagers and school students paid their last respects to the martyr soldier’s mortal remains.

Hangal MLA Srinivas Mane, along with taluk and district officials, also paid their final respects to the martyr soldier by laying wreaths. A procession of the martyred soldier’s mortal remains was taken through the village, and the last rites were performed at the crematorium on the outskirts of the village with full state honors.

Yashodhar had visited his village in February and his family had found a match for him and even fixed the marriage two months ago. The family had planned to conduct the wedding during Deepavali.