Gurdaspur soldier killed in Pakistan shelling in Rajouri
JAMMU: A soldier was killed and a civilian was injured in firing and shelling across the Line of Control (LoC) by Pakistan Army in Jammu and Kashmir’s Rajouri district late Wednesday, officials said.
“The soldier Naik Gurcharan Singh was critically injured as Pakistani troops opened heavy fire in Tarkundi sector that runs along Rajouri and Poonch districts. He later succumbed to his injuries. India retaliated strongly to the unprovoked firing and shelling,” defence spokesman Lt Col Devender Anand said.
Singh belonged to Harchowal village in Gurdaspur district of Punjab. “Naik Gurcharan Singh was a brave, highly motivated and a sincere soldier. The nation will always remain indebted to him for his supreme sacrifice and devotion to duty,” the spokesperson said.
The army said it has sent the mortal remains of the deceased soldier in an advanced light helicopter to his native village on Thursday afternoon where he will be cremated with full military honours.
A civilian, named Nayamtullah,35, of Rajdhani village was also injured in Pak shelling on Wednesday night.Rajouri senior superintendent of police Chandan Kohli said the victim was hit by splinters of a mortar shell.
“He was immediately evacuated to a hospital and is out of danger,” said Kohli.
‘WANTED HIS KIDS TO DON THE OLIVE GREEN’
GURDASPUR: Army Naik Gurcharan Singh, 28, wanted to see his toddler daughter and infant son don the uniform.
The news of his death reached his village, Harchowal in Batala sub-district of Gurdaspur district, on Thursday morning and body at 4pm. Gurcharan was cremated with full military honours at 5:15pm.
Gurcharan, who joined the Indian Army in July 2009, had two elder sisters. Gurcharan’s father Salwinder Singh, 58, also retired from the army. Gurcharan’s wife is a constable in the Punjab Police.
Recalling his son’s last visit, Salwinder said, “His wife was expecting when he came on leave in December 2019. His son was born on December 29, 2019, and he got his leave extended till January 15 as he wanted to celebrate his son’s first Lohri. He called up his wife around 10pm on Wednesday. But who knew that it was his last call.” His father said he was proud of his son who sacrificed his life for the country.