Army bids farewell to slain soldiers, says their valour an inspiration for all'
Srinagar: Army on Monday paid glowing tribute with full military honours to Captain Tushar Mahajan and Lance Naik (corporal) Om Parkash who laid down their lives while fighting militants outside the highway town of Pampore in Jammu and Kashmir. Another Army officer Captain Pawan Kumar also died in the operation earlier on Sunday.
Homage was paid to the “valour and sacrifice’ of Captain Mahajan and Corporal Prakash in a solemn ceremony held at Badami Bagh Cantonment, the headquarters of Army’s 15 (Chinar) Corps.
Both the officers were members of the crack team of Army’s 9 PARA which had launched an operation on Sunday against the militants who had entrenched themselves in the main block at J&K Entrepreneurship Development Institute (JK EDI) campus after ambushing a CRPF convoy along the Srinagar-Jammu highway on February 20. Eleven CRPF jawans were injured, two of them fatally, and also an employee of the JKEDI was killed in the militant ambush and subsequent shootout.
A defence spokesman here said that the slain Army officers were instrumental in clearing major portion of the multi-storeyed building and in this process “they engaged the terrorists at close quarters and in the ensuing fire fight, suffered grievous injuries to which they later succumbed”.
“Born to a family of educationists from Udhampur district of J&K, Captain Mahajan is proudly remembered by his peers for his indomitable spirit and a very high camaraderie quotient,” a statement issued by the Army said. “Commissioned at the young age of 21 years in 2010, passion for adventure of this son of the soil led him to join the elite Special Forces where ‘Balidaan’ is the motto they live and serve by,” it added.
He was an expert combat deep sea diver trained for special operations, the Army said adding, “The martyr is survived by his parents and a younger brother who is pursuing his education abroad”.
The 32-year-old Lance Naik Prakash was a seasoned commando with 13 years of operational experience. He had been wounded earlier in 2005 when he had saved a comrade during a counter terrorist operation, Army said. Later, again for his gallantry in similar operations, he was awarded with the ‘Asadharan Suraksha Seva Praman Patra’ by the Prime Minister on Independence Day in 2013. He was a resident of Shimla and is survived by his parents, wife and two 7 and 3 year old daughters.
Paying homage to the martyrs on behalf of the entire Chinar Corps fraternity, Lt. Gen. Satish Dua, Chinar Corps Commander said that the Army and nation salute their sacrifice. “Their sacrifice would not go in vain,” he said saluting the bereaved families and offering his condolences for their loss. He reinforced Army’s commitment towards their honour and wellbeing.
Later a wreath laying ceremony was held the Northern Command headquarters at Udhampur to accord a ceremonial farewell to Captain Mahajan. Lt. Gen. DS Hooda, Northern Command Chief, laid a wreath at the casket of the slain officer. His family members were also present at the solemn function. His mortal remains were later taken to his home in Udhampur’s Adarsh Nagar locality before cremation with full military honours took place.
