Mortal remains of Army officer killed in Sikkim avalanche laid to rest

Our Correspondent

Imphal, May 16 (EMN): The mortal remains of Lieutenant Colonel Robert TA Kuba, who lost his life along with a soldier when his patrolling party was hit by an avalanche in North Sikkim on May 14, was laid to rest with full military honours at his native Maram Centre village in Manipur on Saturday.

The funeral service held at Maram Centre, 80 km north of Imphal in Senapati district, was attended by family members and few representatives including Army’s 59 Mountain brigade commander in view of the lockdown due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Earlier, Lieutenant Colonel Robert’s mortal remains was airlifted by a chopper to Assam Rifles camp at Maram Bazaar from Bir Tikendrajit International airport at Imphal for holding the funeral service and subsequent procession for burial rites.

In the morning, the officer’s mortal remains were flown from Bagdogra by an Indian air force plane and received with full military honour at the Imphal airport, according to family sources.

Some senior officers of army also visited the residence of army officer at Maram Centre on eve of funeral service, the source claimed.

Meanwhile condolence messages are also pouring in from various quarters. “I am deeply aggrieved to learn about the sad demise of Lieutenant Colonel Robert TA of the 3rd Engineers Regiment of the Indian Army when an avalanche hit his patrolling party in Lugnak La area in North Sikkim on 14th May 2020.” Chief Minister N Biren Singh said in a condolence message. In his demise, the country has lost a young Army officer whose dedication to duty and love for motherland would be remembered forever.

Tribal affairs minister N Kayisii, titular king of Manipur Leishemba Sanajaoba, former assembly Deputy speaker K Raina, Naga People’s Organisation, Senapati District Women’s Association, Senapati District Students’ Association, Maram Union, Maram Students’ Union and others also condoled the sudden demise of the army officer.

38-year-old Robert joined the Indian Army after appearing the Technical Entry Scheme examination in June 2000. After four years of training, he was commissioned into the 3rd Engineers Regiment of the Indian Army as Lieutenant in June 2004.

He then studied at the College of Military Engineering, Pune and earned his B-Tech Civil Engineering degree from Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi. In 2017, he was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. Robert is survived by his wife and two daughters. He was the eldest child of L Thoiba Angelus and K Karaila.