Deputy commandant Joy Lall

Indo-Tibetan Border Police deputy commandant Joy Lall, who was killed in Kashmir Sunday was cremated amid poignant scenes at the cremation ground in Panchkula.

Lall, 36, was among the three ITBP personnel killed at Gund in Jammu and Kashmir in a powerful landmine blast triggered by terrorists on May 30. His eight-year-old son Kartikaye, helped by his uncle Amit Lall, lit the pyre amid chanting of vedic hymns. A contingent of ITBP jawans fired three volleys in the air and reversed arms as buglers sounded the last post. ITBP Director General Gautam Kaul, who came specially from Delhi, expressed condolences to Lall's father H G Lall, a retired IAS officer of Haryana, his mother Shashi Lall, widow Geeta Lall and children. Kaul assured the bereaved family of every possible help by the ITBP in the education of Lall's children.

Kaul told reporters that in the death of Lall, the ITBP had lost a valiant officer. Lall's supreme sacrifice should inspire the younger generation, he added. Besides having served in the prime minister's security, Joy Lall had also been with the peace keeping force in Bosnia.

The body was brought to Panchkula by a special plane last night. It was taken in a flower-bedecked truck from his residence in sector six to the cremation ground in sector 20. A large number of family friends and officers of the Haryana government were present at the cremation.