Jalandhar, Aug 15 (IANS) As a gesture of love and respect to mark Raksha Bandhan, five girls, including daughters of two martyred soldiers, on Thursday tied rakhis to Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh.

The Chief Minister offered them sweets and gifts in return, as a mark of his affection on the festival, and wished them a bright, happy and prosperous future.

The girls who also gave sweets to Amarinder Singh and put a 'tilak' on his forehead, included daughters of two martyred soldiers.

Sonia is the daughter of martyr Constable Raj Kumar, while Bhawna is the daughter of martyr Lance Naik Kulwinder Singh. Both soldiers sacrificed their lives in counter-insurgency Operation Rakshak in Jammu and Kashmir.

The others were Sulekha, a hearing impaired, Muskan and Komalpreet Kaur.

--IANS vg/pgh/