Shaheed Jhontu Sheikh honored with full military honors and gun salute as body returns home; Nation mourns sacrifice

The lifeless body of Shaheed Jhontu Sheikh, an Indian army soldier, was sent to his home with a gun salute by army officers from Barrackpore. His elder brother, Subedar Shafiqul Sheikh, serving in the Indian Army, addressed the grieving public, urging them to avoid any form of unrest and to focus on combating terrorism. Shafiqul emphasized that the nation must unite and take a strong stand against terrorism, declaring that revenge against the terrorists would be the only way forward.

Jhontu Sheikh, who had been leading an operation to target terrorists hiding in the forests of Basantganj, was tragically shot in the head and both shoulders during the operation. Despite being rushed to a hospital by helicopter after sustaining severe injuries, Jhontu was declared dead by doctors. His death occurred while he was part of a search mission in Udhampur, following the terrorist attack that had rocked the country.

Upon receiving the news of his death, grief overwhelmed Jhontu’s family in Tehatta. His parents, along with other family members, were seen mourning as they awaited the arrival of his body. The entire Tehatta area was draped in sorrow, with images of the fallen soldier displayed across the neighborhood. The community stood together, expressing their deep respect and mourning for the sacrifice of their beloved son.

The body arrived at Jhontu's home in the morning, where a crowd gathered to pay their respects. By 11 AM, a gun salute was given to the martyr as a final tribute. People from the Patharghata area, including local residents, poured into the area to honor the fallen soldier. His wife, devastated by the loss, was seen deeply emotional alongside other family members.

On Friday, the Mayor of Bidhannagar Municipal Corporation, Subyashachi Dutta, was present at the Barrackpore Army Hospital morgue as the body was being transported to Jhontu’s home. The preparations to send the body from the Barrackpore Army Hospital to Tehatta had been made immediately after the body arrived from Kashmir. The entire region stood in solidarity, paying respects to the brave soldier who gave his life for the nation.