By The Sampadak Express
Havildar Jhantu Ali Sheikh, a brave soldier from the 6 Para Special Forces of the Indian Army, was laid to rest with full military honors on Saturday in his village in Nadia district, West Bengal. Thousands of villagers, including farmers, shopkeepers, and schoolchildren, gathered in the dusty streets to bid farewell to the fallen hero. The ceremony was marked by the sound of three thundering shots, while Jhantu’s elder brother, Subedar Rafiqur Ali Sheikh, a serving soldier with 28 years of service, carried the flag-draped coffin alongside Army personnel. The crowd fervently chanted “Hindustan Zindabad!”
Jhantu Sheikh hailed from Pathar Gatta, a modest village near the Bangladesh border. Growing up in poverty as the son of a struggling farmer, he was determined to rise above his circumstances. As a student at Bara Andulia High School, he stood out for his height, fitness, and strong sense of patriotism. His childhood friend, Ayanangsha Maitra, recalled how Jhantu would cycle 14 km every day to meet him, despite the harsh realities of poverty that often crushed local dreams. Yet, Jhantu’s ambition was unwavering. Following in his brother’s footsteps, he joined the Army, and his enlistment in the prestigious 6 Para SF made him a local hero, even though he remained humble throughout.“
He was eagerly looking forward to returning home for Bakrid this June,” Maitra shared, adding that despite his fame, Jhantu’s humility never wavered.
At just 19, Jhantu Sheikh was inducted into the 6 Para Special Forces, one of the most elite units of the Indian Army. His dedication to service, including completing his Bachelor of Commerce from Baba Ambedkar College, made him a symbol of resilience for his community. He last visited home just six weeks ago to celebrate his daughter’s sixth birthday, a fleeting moment of joy before his final deployment.
Tragically, on Thursday, the 36-year-old lost his life in a gunbattle with terrorists suspected to be linked to the Pakistan-based terrorist organization Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) in the Dudu-Basantgarh region of Udhampur district. The same outfit is believed to have been behind a deadly attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, earlier that week, which claimed the lives of 25 tourists and a local Kashmiri ponywallah.
On Friday night, Jhantu Sheikh’s remains were flown from Kashmir to Kolkata, where a solemn tribute was paid at Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport. West Bengal Urban Development Minister Firhad Hakim joined the gathering, where the crowd chanted “Bharat Matar Veer Santan Jhantu Sheikh amar rahe” (India’s brave heart Jhantu Sheikh will live forever in our hearts).
At the funeral, Subedar Rafiqur Ali Sheikh, in a heartfelt tribute, emphasized the unity of the Indian Army: “The Indian Army has no religion. It stands united—Hindus, Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, all serving shoulder to shoulder. Let no one dare tag it otherwise. We are proud of his sacrifice. He avenged our Hindu brothers and gave his life for the nation.”
Jhantu Sheikh is survived by his widow, Sahana, and their two young children. To ensure their continued education, the family has been living at an Army cantonment in Agra. Reflecting on her last conversation with her husband, Sahana shared, “He told me he would call the next day. I never imagined I would see him like this.”
In a show of support, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee reached out to the family on Saturday, expressing her condolences and instructing officials in Nadia district to expedite medical and financial assistance for Sheikh’s elderly parents. Prominent figures from the Trinamool Congress (TMC), including Mahua Moitra, visited Pathar Gatta to pay their respects and pledged to support Sheikh’s family.
Havildar Jhantu Sheikh’s sacrifice stands as a testament to his unwavering commitment to his country, and his legacy will live on in the hearts of his loved ones and the nation.
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