He disappeared on May 29, 1984 on the Siachen glacier, which is administered by India and claimed by Pakistan. 38 years later, the remains of Soldier Shekhar have been found in the heart of the Himalayas. Sad news for her daughter, who was four years old when she disappeared, but will eventually allow her family to turn the page. “He’s long gone (…) Dad’s back, but I want him to live”he said, quoted from the daily Hindustan Time.
On Tuesday, the soldier’s family received his body at their home. His widow, Shanti Devi, now 63, said military officials, people from their village and surrounding areas all came to Haldwani in northern India to pay homage to Lance Naik Chandrashekhar Harbol, his full name. “He is our hero. As a country remembering the sacrifices of our soldiers, I’m sure his sacrifices will also be remembered”he says.
According to the army, Private Shekhar was deployed as part of Operation Meghdoot (Messenger Cloud) in 1984, when India and Pakistan began fighting for control of the Siachen Glacier, in the Himalayan region of Ladakh. According to local press, he died after being caught in an avalanche while on patrol with a group of 20 soldiers. Fifteen bodies were found at the time, and he was one of the five missing soldiers.
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