Pune: Thousands of villagers on Thursday bid a tearful adieu to Indian Air Force (IAF) special force commando (Garud) Sergeant Milind Khairnar on Thursday, who was martyred in a gunfight with terrorists in Kashmir on Wednesday.

The mortal remains of the soldier were cremated at his native place Borale village in Nandurbar district with full military honours.

The martyr's body was flown to Nashik and reached his native village around 5 pm on Thursday. His wife Harshada, daughter Vedika who studies in class II, two-year-old son Krishna, also came from Chandigarh, where they lived in air force quarters.

Khairnar's children and brother Manoj, who works with Mumbai police, performed his last rites. 

Local politicians including District Guardian Minister Jaykumar Rawal, MLAs Chandrakant Raghuvanshi, Vijaykumar Gavit, Collector Mallinath Kalshetty and SP Sanjay Patil were also present.