‘Never lost courage, not even in final moments': Bihar mourns BSF sub-inspector killed in Pakistan shelling
A Tricolour-draped coffin carrying the body of Mohammed Imteyaz arrived at Patna airport on Monday morning, just a fortnight after the BSF sub-inspector left home for his duty in Jammu & Kashmir.
Imran Raza, his son, stood among the mourners. 'He had come home for Eid… And now, a war has taken him from us,' he said.
Imteyaz was killed on May 10 during cross-border shelling by Pakistan along the International Border in the R S Pura sector of Jammu.
'My father was a strong person… I am very proud of him… he never lost courage, not even in his final moments,' Imran said, his voice trembling.
'The last time I spoke to him was at 5:30 pm on the 10th,' he said. 'He told me, 'Pakistanis have attacked, my right leg is badly injured'.'
Imran told his father not to worry, and in desperation, booked a flight to Delhi, only to find that no flights are available to Jammu.
'I took a train instead… Till 3 pm, I was told his condition was stable, out of danger. But at 6 pm, the assistant commandant called to say that he is no more,' Imran said. 'I never got to speak to him one last time. That pain will always remain.'
'Today, a son has lost his father, a wife her husband… only those who go through this can truly understand the pain. Still, I am proud of all those who have sacrificed their lives for the country. I salute them,' he said.
Imteyaz's younger brother, Mohammad Mustafa, also an Armyman, said, 'He joined the Army in 1987 and was due to retire in 2029. There should be a hospital and a memorial in his name in our village.'
The BSF said that Imteyaz was injured 'while leading a BSF border out post, gallantly leading from the front'.
A wreath-laying ceremony was held at the BSF Frontier Headquarters in Jammu before the body was flown to Bihar. State ministers and opposition leaders gathered at the Patna airport to receive his body, which was laid to rest with state and military honours at Narayanpur village in Bihar's Saran district.
As the body arrived at the village, several villagers, some carrying the national flag, joined the procession and chants of 'Bharat Mata Ki Jai' rang out.
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