Haryana Village United in Grief As India Mourns the Loss of Lance Naik Dinesh Kumar Sharma, Martyred in Poonch Shelling

The quiet village of Mohammadpur in Haryana’s Palwal district turned into a sea of sorrow and pride on Thursday, as thousands gathered to pay their final respects to Lance Naik Dinesh Kumar Sharma, a soldier of the Indian Army’s 5-Field Regiment, who was martyred during intense cross-border shelling in Jammu and Kashmir’s Poonch sector on May 7.

At just 32, Sharma laid down his life in one of the deadliest escalations from the side of Pakistan along the Line of Control in recent years—an attack that followed India’s ‘Operation Sindoor’ and claimed the lives of 13 people, including 12 civilians. He died defending the nation, struck down by a barrage of artillery, his courage etched forever into the soil he swore to protect.

His body arrived in Gulawad draped in the tricolour, met with chants of “Bharat Mata Ki Jai” and “Dinesh Kumar Sharma Amar Rahe.” The procession, solemn and stirring, made its way through lanes crowded with villagers—some weeping silently, others standing tall in reverence. Women in ‘ghoonghat’ (veil), young men on motorbikes, and elders clutching prayer beads lined the streets. From rooftops and staircases, all eyes followed the fallen hero on his final journey.

Sharma leaves behind his pregnant wife, Seema—an advocate in the district court—and their two young children, a daughter of seven and a son just three. Amid the wails of mourners, Seema’s heartbreak pierced the air. “He called at 4 a.m. I missed it. That call will haunt me for the rest of my life,” she said, her voice breaking. Hours earlier, the couple had shared a video call. He had shown her the dense forest around , promising another call at midnight. Instead, the next call was from the Army informing them of his injuries—and then, the unthinkable.

Dinesh’s father, Daya Ram Sharma, stood tall despite his tears. “He died a soldier’s death. We are proud of him,” he said, revealing that two of Dinesh’s younger brothers are serving in the Army as ‘Agniveers’. “His son says he wants to wear the uniform too. He will carry forward the legacy.” Kapil Sharma, Dinesh’s younger brother, called him a mentor, a guide, and a constant source of strength. “Everything I am is because of him,” he said.

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The military honours were as moving as they were majestic—a 21-gun salute, bugles sounding, and soldiers standing in salute as Dinesh was laid to rest.

Soldiers from the Indian Army and Haryana Police performed a ceremonial last salute, followed by a 21-gun salute, as the air echoed with patriotic slogans. The Army has promised to honour Sharma’s sacrifice by installing a statue in his memory in Gulawad. Born on January 30, 1993, Dinesh Kumar Sharma joined the Indian Army on September 15, 2014, and was recently promoted to the rank of Lance Naik. Stationed in the volatile Poonch sector, he was known for his dedication and bravery. His martyrdom, coincidentally, occurred on the same date—May 7—that he had cleared his physical exam to join the Army in 2014, a poignant detail that deepened the family’s grief.

The Indian Army paid tribute to Sharma’s valour, with General Upendra Dwivedi, Chief of Army Staff, and the White Knight Corps saluting his supreme sacrifice. “The Indian Army stands in solidarity with the innocent civilians who are victims of attacks orchestrated through indiscriminate artillery shelling by the adversary in the Poonch sector,” the Army stated, vowing to thwart such actions with resolute and punitive measures. As the Nation mourns, Sharma’s village in Haryana stood united in pride and sorrow, honouring a hero whose sacrifice has left an indelible mark on their hearts and the nation.