Udupi: Signalman Upendra Kumar’s (23) dead body was tearfully received at his native village by family members and local people in Tenkanidiyur on Saturday.

He died in a Combat as a soldier, at Meerut in Uttar Pradesh at the hands of railway looters.

Uppy, as he was known, had joined Army service over 3 years ago, and was posted to Meerut, after stints in Jammu-Kashmi and Madhya Pradesh.

Someone in the army had alerted the boy’s parents (both dead), and 3 brothers on Thursday last.

When a return call was made, the truth was not told. The dead body confirmed the facts.

Upendra was an orphan, and was looked after by his uncle. He studied up to PUC. He visited the family during last Diwali on leave. He has orphaned 3 brothers at home in their misery. Several leaders like MP Oscar Fernandes, MLA Raghupathi Bhat, MLC Ganesh Karnik, ZP CEO Prabhakar Sharma, DC in charge Kumar, Zilla panchayat chairman Katpadi S. Poojary and others paid their last respects to the young soldier who died on duty.