Nation Bids Farewell To Brigadier LS Lidder, Last Rites Performed With Full Military Honours

Brig Lidder is survived by his wife and daughter. Fondly called as ‘Tony’, Lidder was a second-generation Army officer and had his roots from Haryana’s Panchkula. 

New Delhi: Nation bids farewell to Brigadier Lakhwinder Singh Lidder today, who passed away in an ill-fated IAF chopper crash on Wednesday. His funeral took place at the Brar Square Crematorium in Delhi Cantonment where his last rites were performed with full military honours.

Brig Lidder is survived by his wife and daughter. Fondly called as ‘Tony’, Lidder was a second-generation Army officer and had his roots from Haryana’s Panchkula. 

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh paid homage to Brig Lidder ahead of his funeral. Union Minister and Brig Lidder's batchmate, Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore was also present at the Brar Square Crematorium.

National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, Army Chief General MM Naravane, Naval Chief Admiral R Hari Kumar, Air Chief Marshal AVR Chaudhari also paid tribute at the Brar Square Crematorium. Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar was also present on the occasion. 

Brig Lidder had worked extensively on tri-service reform as a Defence Assistant to CDS General Bipin Rawat. He was preparing for his next posting after serving as an important member of General Rawat’s team and was soon set to be promoted as Major General. 

He had attended Higher Command and National Defence College courses. In December 1990, Brig Lidder was commissioned into 2 Jammu Kashmir Rifles and later commanded the same battalion.  

Recipient of Sena Medal and Vishisht Seva Medal, Brig Lidder had also served as defence attache to Kazakhstan during his distinguished career. 

While serving as defence assistant to CDS General Rawat, Brig Lidder played a significant role in chalking out a plan for India’s higher defence reforms under which a road map had been drawn to roll out tri-services theatre commands to ensure enhanced coordination among the Army, the Air Force and the Navy. 

On Wednesday, Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat, his wife Madhulika Rawat and 11 members died in a helicopter air crash near Coonoor in Tamil Nadu. The crash took place shortly after the Russian made Mi-17V-5 helicopter took off from the Sulur Air Base in Coimbatore. Brig Lidder was one of the 13 members who had lost their lives.