A newlywed & a lone breadwinner: 2 Punjab bravehearts lay down their lives fighting terrorists in Kashmir's Kulgam
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Ludhiana/Fatehgarh Sahib: Punjab is mourning the two Armymen killed in the Kulgam anti-terrorist encounter on Saturday -- Lance Naik Pritpal Singh, 28, and Sepoy Harminder Singh, 26, of Sikh Light Infantry.
Both of them were deployed in anti-terror ops with 19 Rashtriya Rifles. Pritpal was married barely six months ago and Harminder was the sole breadwinner for his family, supporting his parents and a mentally-ailing sister.
Both soldiers were engaged in fierce combat since Aug 1 when the operation was launched -- it's already the longest encounter in the Valley this year.
Hailing from Manupur village in Khanna, Pritpal joined Army in 2015 right after passing his class 12 board exam, said his elder brother, Harpreet.
According to the Army, Pritpal was fatally wounded by splinters when a hiding terrorist lobbed a hand grenade at him.
"We got a call at 5.30am today from one of his buddies. He said Pritpal was wounded, and started crying. An hour later, a call came from his unit officers who said he had been martyred fighting terrorists," said Harpreet, adding, "He was married on Feb 24 and returned to duty in April."
Manupur village is in mourning.
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The soldier's father Harbans Singh said, "I last spoke with him a couple of days ago, and he said he was fine. Today his officers called to say he went down fighting."
"He was supposed to come home on leave at the end of this month and again after Diwali," the elder brother said. Pritpal came from a fauji family. Two of his uncles were also in the Army.
Homage will be paid to him at his unit and then flown to Halwara airport, a member of the local ex-Serviceman association, Captain Harjinder Singh (retd), said.
It will be brought to Manupur, 80km away, by road and he will be cremated with full honours.
Sepoy Harminder's uncle Harbans Singh said he was due to return home in October for the marriage of his cousin (Harbans' daughter). "He had told me that he would take care of all the arrangements. Don't worry, he assured," said Harbans, adding that the family planned to arrange Harminder's wedding next.
Harminder is survived by his elderly parents, a brother and a sister. "They are living in abject poverty. Harminder's father Jaswant is landless and works as a labourer. He was their lone hope," he added.
Harminder had joined the Army eight years ago, driven by patriotism, and dreams of building a house — a dream that remained unfulfilled.
His body is expected to reach the village on Sunday for cremation.
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