Last rites of Indian Army soldier Divin performed at native village in Kodagu

MADIKERI: Indian Army Lance Havildar Deevin Palangoti (28), who was among the four from Karnataka who died when an army vehicle pluned into a gorge in Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir on December 24, was cremated with full military and state honours at his hometown at Alur Siddapura in Somwarpet taluk on Wednesday.

Divin’s mother Jalajakshi and other relatives received the Tricolour that was draped on the casket.

Of the five who died in the accident, four were from Karnataka. The three others are Subedar Dayanad Thirakannavar (44) from Belagavi, Lance Havildar Anoop Poojary (33) from Kundapur and Mahesh Marigond (25) of Mahalingpar in Bagalkot district.

The mortal remains of Divin Palangoti were brought from Bengaluru to Kushalnagar on Tuesday night and was kept at the GMP School grounds, where he had studied, on Wednesday for people to pay their last respects. It was also kept at the Junior College grounds in Alur Siddapura for some time. Later, the last rites were conducted at the family farm next to his father’s final resting place.

All along the route, schoolchildren and the public showered flower petals and raised ‘Bharat Mata ki Jai’ slogans. Divin was to get married next month. Divin’s nephew Chirag lit the funeral pyre and the last rites were conducted as per Arebashe Gowda customs.