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Hundreds turned up to attend the funeral ceremony of Shabir Ahmad Malik, the Kashmiri soldier killed in the army’s ongoing encounter with Lashkar-e-Taiyba militants, at Dab Wakoora village in north Kashmir’s Ganderbal district.

The gunfight between militants and the army in north Kashmir’s Shamsbhari mountain range in the frontier Kupwara district has claimed 25 lives till now.

The Army has so far eliminated 17 militants while it has lost eight troopers, including Major Mohit Sharma.

Shabir, 21, joined the Indian army after passing his 12th class examination. He studied at the Sainik (army) School at Ganderbal.

Shabir’s family and neighbours are proud of his army service.

"He has become a hero. He died an honourable death. I am so happy, although I am also pained at his separation," says Mohammad Yasin, a neighbour and friend of the dead man.

"Even now, I have a passionate desire to do something for my country like Shabir has done."

Mr Yasin says that the moving send-off given to Shabir has inspired many more youths in the village to join the army.

"I am 28," says Showkat Ahmed. "I have never in my life seen such a funeral. Such death is pride-worthy."

The coffin was draped in India’s tricolour before it was carried to the graveyard.

Shabir’s brother, Ghiulam Mohammad, says: "I wanted him to become a doctor. But he had a passion for joining the army and was determined to complete his graduation so he could become an army officer.

"He was patriotic from his childhood. He wanted to do something for his country. His ambition has been fulfilled."

The villagers have been sharing the family’s grief as well as its pride in what Shabir fought for.

"Every family here is bereaved. Every family is mourning," one villager said.