Army Special Forces Commando, Family Receive Death Threat

 Kolkata: An Indian Army Special Forces (SF) commando, who has been deployed in counter terrorist operations in Jammu and Kashmir, has received death threats in the name of a terror outfit to him and his family in Hooghly of West Bengal.

The threats came days after the deadly terror attack on a group of tourists at Pahalgam in the valley. The soldier, Rakesh Mukherjee alias Gourab, joined the Army through Agniveer recruitment scheme on December 26 in 2022.

He belongs to elite 6 PARA (SF) battalion which witnessed the death of its commando Jhantu Ali Sheikh, from Nadia in the state, during a combing and search operation against the terrorists at Udhampur in J&K on April 24.

At around 8 pm on April 26, Gourab’s father Goutam Mukherjee found two handwritten posters in Bengali under the banner of ‘Pakistan Zindabad’, pasted on the walls of his house at Dhaniakhali.

The posters stated, “Gourab Mukherjeer Mundu Chai. Hindu Banchate Gele, Tor Poribarke Shesh Kore Debo. Amra Banglake Pakistan Korbo. (We want Gourab Mukherjee's head. We will finish your family if you try to save the Hindus. We will turn Bengal into Pakistan.”

‘Al Qaeda Muslim League’ was written at the bottom of both the posters. At night, Mr Mukherjee lodged a complaint with the Dhaniakhali police station. The Army also swung into action and lodged a strongly worded complaint on Sunday with Hooghly district magistrate Mukta Arya and superintendent of police Kamanasish Sen for action.

It stated, “This incidence of threats against him & his family is causing mental distress and raise serious concerns about his family's safety. We believe that this is a matter of grievous concern as it is detrimental to the nation's interest in general the organisation's well being in particular. In view of the above, I kindly request your immediate intervention in this matter by investigating the source of these threats and taking the necessary legal action to ensure the safety and security of the soldier and his family. Outcome may please be communicated to this office for our necessary action at the earliest.”