"Slogan-shouting and screaming 'zindabad' or 'murdabad' will not make any difference"

NASHIK: Squadron leader Ninad Mandavgane was on Friday cremated with full state honours at Amardham Crematorium of the city. People gathered from across the city and district in the thousands to bid adieu to the pilot, who died in the line of duty in a helicopter crash with five other IAF men near Budgam in Central Kashmir on Wednesday.

As slogans rent the air, Vijeta, Mandavgane's wife, said, "Slogan-shouting and screaming 'zindabad' or 'murdabad' will not make any difference. If you really want to do something, join the defence forces. Or encourage someone in your family to do so. If that is not possible, small things could help - keep your surroundings clean, don't litter, don't urinate in the open, and do not harass women. Stop spreading communal hatred. Small gestures go a long way." Vijeta said her husband would rest in peace, knowing his family is safe.

Wife offers sage counsel as Nashik bids adieu to IAF pilot

The young wife said her husband would rest in peace, knowing that his family was safe. Mandavgane was on Friday cremated with full state honours at Amardham crematorium in the city. People gathered from across the city and the district in thousands to bid adieu to the pilot. “Amar rahe, amar rahe, veer jawan amar rahe”, “Bharat Mata ki jai”, “Vande Mataram”, “Murdabad, murdabad, Pakistan murdabad” and other slogans reverberated as people paid homage to Mandavgane at his residence in Bank of India Colony, DGP Nagar.

Mandavgane’s helicopter was on a sortie when it crashed. The Indian and Pakistani governments as well as the IAF clarified that the crash was not related to any action by Pakistani forces. Mandavgane’s mortal remains arrived in Nashik late on Thursday night and were brought to his residence on Friday morning. The coffin wrapped in a tricolour was brought out of the residence at 10 am. Police had to make arrangements to manage the large number of people gathered in the area. B G Gangurde, a retired government employee, said he had arrived from Satpur, Kamgaar Nagar, to pay homage. “I got the wreath prepared early in the morning to reach in time. Mandavgane has made the supreme sacrifice. The least we can do is arrive today and pay our respects. It is heartening to see so many people come out in support of our defence personnel,” he said.

People lined up for nearly 4km from Mandavgane’s residence to the crematorium, showering petals as the procession carrying the mortal remains passed them.

As Mandavgane’s father Anil consigned the body to the flames, 11 IAF gunners fired a salvo of three rounds in the air. Sameer Borade, commanding officer, Ozar Air Force Station, laid the wreath on the body on behalf of Air Chief Marshal Birendra Singh Dhanoa. District guardian minister Girish Mahajan, police commissioner Ravinder Kumar Singal, inspector general (special) Nashik range Chhering Dorje, district collector Radhakrishnan B and other senior officials and political leaders paid their respects.

