Churachandpur, July 2 :     Praise is the last thing the Army expects in the hotbed of insurgency that is Manipur, but the Kargil conflict appears to have broken the invisible barrier between the armed forces and the people of this northeastern state. Indeed, the spontaneity with which the whole of Churachandpur received the body of Kargil martyr Zamkholal Vaiphei yesterday caught even veteran Armymen by surprise. ?It was un unforgettable day for the Army. In spite of insurgency and ethnic conflict, Churachandpur showed that it still cares,? said an Army major who accompanied the slain soldier?s coffin. Thousands of tribals lined the road as the Tricolour-draped coffin bearing Zamkholal?s body was being brought to his native village of Tangmual on the outskirts of Churachandpur in a truck. People of all tribes paid floral tributes and tried to touch the coffin all along the route to Churachandpur district, bordering Myanmar. Tribal flags were flown at half-mast in every Kuki village as a mark of respect to Zamkholal, who was a sepoy in the 7 Assam Regiment and belonged to the Vaiphei tribe. Such was the public response to the Kargil hero?s ?homecoming? that the funeral ceremony was delayed by a few hours. The venue for the ceremony had to be shifted to the Churachandpur College campus as the graveyard could not accommodate all the people who had come to pay tributes. Col. Pravin Joshi, commanding officer of the 3 Madras Regiment, played on the sentiments of the people, saying, ?He (Zamkholal) has given his today for your tomorrow.? Zamkholal was killed in the Kargil sector on June 28. His father Ginkhohao Vaiphei, a former havildar in the Assam Regiment, said he was proud that his son had laid down his life defending the country. ?I have no regrets. I am a proud father,? he said. Army officers who witnessed the emotion-charged proceedings yesterday wondered whether there could be a lesson for them somewhere. A Major was particularly impressed when he saw tribal youth intently looking at a board displaying Zamkholal?s photographs and credentials. The Army officer said the slain sepoy?s exploits and the honour accorded to him could be a motivating factor for other youth to join the Army. He said the Army was also proud of the fact that most of the arrangements for Zamkholal?s funeral ceremony were done by the people.