Remains of Indian soldier killed in 1962 war recovered

SHIMLA - The Indian Army has recovered the remains of a soldier who died during the 1962 Indo-China war from Arunchal Pradesh close to the China border, an official said Friday. The soldier belonged to Himachal Pradesh’s Kangra district.

“The remains of soldier Karam Chand Katoch of 4 Dogra Regiment, whose name was listed among the soldiers who died during the 1962 war were recovered in Anjaw district July 1,” an army officer posted at the Yol cantonment near Dharamsala told IANS Friday.

He said the soldier was recognised from his dog tag (3950976) that was recovered by the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) during repair of a road close to the China border in Walong area in Arunchal Pradesh.

“One .303 rifle and 47 round of ammunition were also recovered from there,” he said.

Col S.K. Singh, who is posted with the Dogra Regiment at New Jalpaiguri in West Bengal, told IANS over phone: “The soldier has been recognised from his badge.”

He said the family of the soldier, at his native village Agochar near Andretta in Kangra, has been informed.

“The body would reach his native village July 13 and the cremation would take place with full military honours,” Colonel Singh, who is on way to Himachal along with the soldier’s remains, said.

Jaswant Singh, the soldier’s nephew who is settled in Agochar, said information regarding recovery of the body was received from the army authorities.

“After the war, my grandfather K.S. Katoch got a message from the army that his 21-year-old son had gone missing. Since his name never figured in the list of prisoners of war, his parents kept waiting and hoping that one day he will come back. Finally, they passed away,” he said, adding that the soldier was a bachelor when he died.

He said K.S. Katoch died in 1985 and his wife Gaytri Devi in 1990.

Jaswant Singh said the army authorities informed him that the body was retrieved from a glacier close to the China border.