The Army on Wednesday honoured Colonel MN Rai, who was killed in an encounter with terrorists in South Kashmir.
It was a tearful goodbye to a brave heart. Colonel Munindra Nath Rai, who was killed battling terrorists in South Kashmir on Tuesday, just a day after he was awarded a gallantry award, was the highest ranked officer to be killed in fighting in the region in months.
The 39-year-old officer was the youngest of the 13 awardees conferred with the Yudh Seva Medal. He was one of two security personnel killed in the encounter in Pulwama District's Tral, the other being Head Constable Sanjeev Singh of the Jammu and Kashmir Police.
"He was a very brave officer. He showed that our army officers lead from the front. We killed the two terrorists, but it is sad that he was too was killed," said Army chief Dalbir Singh Suhaag.
Colonel Rai's body will be brought to Delhi today. There will be a wreath laying ceremony at 10:30 am at Brar Square in the Cantonment, followed by the funeral. He is survived by his wife and three children.
Colonel Rai's last status on the mobile messaging service WhatsApp, posted two months ago, read: "Play your role in life with such passion, that even after the curtains come down, the applause doesn't stop." He is survived by his wife and three children. Colonel Rai's Rai's family will get a grant of over Rs 90 lakh, including the Rs 30 lakh announced by Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav.
During last year's floods in Kashmir, Colonel Rai took part in rescue and evacuation operations, evacuating pregnant women from Anantnag to the Army's Base Hospital in Srinagar. He is also credited with the idea of taking a group of apple growers from South Kashmir to Shimla, for understanding how apple growers there derive maximum value for their money. He had also organised cricket and football tournaments for the youth in South Kashmir.
"Under his leadership with the 42 RR battalion, even during the elections, he earned the admiration of all the administration and the Jammu and Kashmir Police and Central armed police forces for his meticulous planning," said Lt General Subrata Saha, Commander of the 15 Corps.
The other martyr, 35-year-old Head Constable Sanjeev Singh, quit his teaching job to join the security forces. hIS last status on the mobile messaging service WhatsApp, posted two days ago, read, "It was my duty to shoot the enemy and I don't regret it. My regrets are for the people I couldn't save: soldiers, buddies innocents etc."
Head Constable Singh's family, in the state's Doda District, are in mourning. They had heard about his death on the radio. He is survived by a two-year-old son and a pregnant wife. They will get grants totalling to Rs 20 lakh, Rs 2 lakh from the state government, an additional Rs 10 lakh from the Police Welfare Fund and Rs 8 lakh from the Centre.