Body of Army officer killed in Manipur to arrive in Delhi today

Gurgaon/New Delhi: The body of Major Amit Deswal, who died in a gun battle with tribal militants in Manipur, will on Friday arrive at the technical area of Palam airport.

A wreath-laying ceremony will be organised around noon.

On Thursday, his family said they were proud of Major Deswal's "martyrdom".

Major Deswal of the 21 Special Force of Rashtriya Rifles, who hailed from Surheti village in Haryana's Jhajjar district, 45 km from Gurgaon, died fighting militants in Manipur's Tamenglong district on Wednesday.

"The braveheart breathed his last in the true traditions of a warrior," said Deswal's brother-in-law Sanjeev Kumar.

His uncle Om Singh said: "The family mourns his death but he died for the country, a commando, fighting till the end."

Deswal's father and grandfather were also in the army.

The Army major got married in 2009 and his wife and four-year-old son lived with him in Manipur. His other family members live in Sector 6 area in Jhajjar.