On May 9, Capt Amol Kalia, affectionately called Vippu by his family, along with 13 other jawans of the 12 J&K Light Infantry, had fallen to enemy bullets in the Batalik sub-sector, but not before killing 25 infiltrators. His body, however, was recovered only yesterday as the area was being shelled continuously.

Though the arrival of Amol's body was delayed by at least four hours, it did not deter the residents, many of whom could be seen occupying every inch of space on the walls of their houses and a nearby club.

Kalia's coffin was brought here by officers of the Jammu and Kashmir Light Infantry. Slogans against Pakistan rent the air as the military truck carrying the coffin entered the city. Despite placing barricades at the park near Kalia's home - where the coffin wasbrought for `sangat darshan' - the police had a tough time handling the mob, which raised anti-Pakistan slogans.

Cutting across party lines, the Shiv Sena and the Congress displayed banners denouncing Pakistan's claim on the Line of Control. Banners glorifying Amol Kalia as 'Amar Shaheed' fluttered along the roads to BBMB Colony.

As a mark of respect to the martyr, patriotic songs were played through the public address system in various parts of the city.

As per the schedule, Amol Kalia's cremation will take place at Chintpurni town in Una district of Himachal Pradesh tomorrow morning. After his body is kept here for the night, the funeral procession will leave for Chintpurni.

Though Chintpurni is the native town of Kalias, Amol was born and brought up in Nangal. According to an official spokesman, a BBMB park in the township is being named after Amol.

Earlier, the body of Capt Amol Kalia was flown in to Chandigarh by an Air Force aircraft today. `I am proud of him,' was all that Capt AmolKalia's mother, Usha Sharma, could say before breaking into tears. She, along with her husband Sat Pal Sharma, had come here from Nangal to receive their son's body. ``I died a thousand deaths during the days when the body was not found. Even in his death, he has surprised me with such bravery,'' Sat Pal Sharma, maintaining a dignified posture, said.

Capt Kalia's elder brother, Flight Lieutenant Aman Kalia, who had also come from Nangal along with his parents, remained composed, saying he cherished every moment he had spent with his younger brother and would never forget their last meeting on May 24 when Amol had come home.

Asked how he felt about the operations at Kargil, Amol's father said: ``This mess is being created by politicians. Our soldiers are very brave and not afraid to sacrifice their lives. What more can I say.''

Amidst heavy downpour, the Tricolour-draped body was received with full military honours by senior military and civil functionaries, including Chandimandir Station Commander BrigS K Sinha, Commander, N-Area, Col Shakti Prashad, Chandigarh Deputy Commissioner Ram Shekhar and Roopnagar SSP Jaskaran Singh.

Col Shakti Prasad and Col C J Paul of the J&K LI also accompanied the convoy to Nangal. Col Shakti Prasad said that senior military officers will attend the cremation ceremony. Replying to a question, he said Kalia's body was not severely affected, despite the fact that it could not be retrieved from the battlefield for almost 10 days.

Food and Civil Supplies Minister Madan Mohan Mittal had also reached the BBMB Colony to pay tributes to the martyr.