Mukut Bihari Meena's five-month-old daughter during his funeral

Jaipur: Five-month old Aaru sat on the coffin of her father, Army paratrooper Mukut Bihari Meena who died fighting terrorists in Kashmir. She also held the burning stick along with her grandfather Jagannath before the latter performed his son's last rites.

"You sat on the coffin without crying. Moments before, you had seen the face of your father. It was very emotional. Me and all the Army officers were watching and your innocence was at the centre of our thoughts," Jhalawar district collector Jitendra Soni said in an emotional letter to the baby girl.

"The blessings of every responsible and sensible citizen of the entire country are with you. Grow well and make your father's glorious martyrdom your pride," Mr Soni said.

Twenty-five year old Mukut Bihari Meena laid down his life in Kupwara on July 11. He was laid to rest with full military honours.

Public representatives, officials from the Army, district administration, police and thousands of people from different parts of the district paid respects to the martyr.