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The Print
27-04-2025
- The Print
‘All can see where we stand': Message to the nation by fallen hero Havildar Jhantu Sheikh's father
'He would cycle 14 km every day from his village to mine,' recalled his childhood friend Ayanangsha Maitra, speaking to ThePrint. 'Where we come from, poverty buries most ambitions. Joining the Army, let alone the Special Forces, was almost unthinkable. But Jhantu followed his brother's footsteps and broke through. His enlistment made him a local hero, yet he stayed humble. He was eagerly planning a trip home for Bakrid this June.' Hailing from Pathar Gatta, a modest village near the Bangladesh border, Sheikh grew up in poverty as the son of a farmer struggling to make ends meet. From his school days at Bara Andulia High School under Chapra subdivision in Nadia district, Jhantu stood out in school— tall, fit and fiercely patriotic. New Delhi: Havildar Jhantu Ali Sheikh of 6 Para Special Forces of the Army was laid to rest Saturday with full military honours in his village in Nadia district, West Bengal. Three thundering shots echoed through the air, drawing the attention of thousands of villagers, including farmers, shopkeepers and schoolchildren, who gathered in the dusty streets, fervently chanting 'Hindustan Zindabad!' as Subedar Rafiqur Ali Sheikh, Jhantu's elder brother and a serving soldier with 28 years of service in the Army, carried the flag-draped coffin alongside members of the Army. Maitra, who also spoke with Jhantu's grieving parents, shared that his father's words were simple yet powerful: 'After my son's death, everyone can see where we stand.' Sheikh graduated with a Bachelor of Commerce from Baba Ambedkar College. An official from the Army informed ThePrint that Sheikh was inducted into the 6 Para SF, one of the Army's finest units, at the age of 19. Just six weeks ago, he had been home, celebrating his daughter's sixth birthday, a brief moment of joy before he returned to duty for the last time. Sheikh, 36, lost his life in the Dudu-Basantgarh region of Udhampur district Thursday during an exchange of gunfire with terrorists suspected to be affiliated with the Pakistan-based terror outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT). The same outfit is believed to be responsible for the brutal attack earlier this week in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, where 25 tourists and one local Kashmiri Ponywallah, who tried to save them, were killed. Late Friday night, the remains of Shaheed Jhantu Sheikh were flown from Kashmir to Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport in Kolkata aboard a military aircraft. Firhad Hakim, the Urban Development Minister of West Bengal, paid a floral tribute as a gathering at the airport chanted, 'Bharat Matar Veer Santan Jhantu Sheikh amar rahe' (India's brave heart Jhantu Sheikh will live forever in our hearts). At Jhantu's funeral, Subedar Rafiqur Ali Sheikh paid tribute to his brother's courage, affirming: 'The Indian Army has no religion. It stands united—Hindus, Muslims, Christians, Sikhs are all serving shoulder to shoulder. Let no one dare tag it otherwise. We are proud of his sacrifice and he avenged our Hindu brothers and gave his life for the nation.' Sheikh is survived by his widow, Sahana and their two young children. To ensure continuity in schooling, the family resides at an army cantonment in Agra. Recalling the last message she received from her husband, Sahana told reporters, 'He said he was going to call me the next day. I never thought I would see him this way.' Sahana explained that early Thursday morning, she had received a text from Sheikh, informing her that he would be busy with work and would call her back the following day. On Saturday morning, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee reached out to the family to express her condolences and instructed officials in Nadia district to expedite medical and financial support for Sheikh's elderly parents. Subsequently, prominent figures from the Trinamool Congress (TMC), including Mahua Moitra, made a visit to Pathar Gatta, where they laid wreaths and expressed their commitment to support his family. In an interview with ThePrint, Moitra highlighted the depth of his sacrifice: 'Just two days after the targeted killings in Pahalgam, he, a Muslim soldier, laid down his life for fellow Indians. That is the spirit of India and that is the ethos of the Indian Army.' Adding, 'His entire family serves the nation; his brother and sister-in-law are both in uniform. His martyrdom is a powerful reminder that the Army doesn't see religion and neither should India.' Moitra also said that when she met Jhantu's grieving parents, 'their pride was unmistakable through their pain'. The Army will extend full support to the family and if his wife chooses to relocate from Agra, we are committed to ensuring their children get quality education and care, said Moitra. (Edited by Radifah Kabir) Also Read: Hid behind toilet, saw massacre: Pahalgam eyewitness narrates how off-duty Army man led 30 to safety
Time of India
27-04-2025
- Time of India
'I will avenge his death': Armyman dada vows to seek justice for Jhantu Ali's death at Nadia funeral in Kolkata
Wife Sahana,brother Rafiqul mourn at Jhantu Ali's funeral in Nadia's Tehatta TEHATTA (NADIA): An entire village, which came out on Saturday to lay to rest Indian Army jawan Jhantu Ali Shaikh , heard his brother - also a jawan with the country's defence forces in Jammu & Kashmir - vowing revenge for the death. Jhantu - a commando with the 6 Para Forces - died in an encounter with terrorists in J&K's Udhampur on Thursday, two days after the Pahalgam carnage in which Pakistan-backed terrorists killed 26 people, 25 of them tourists. On Saturday, Jhantu's elder brother, Rafiqul, a subedar in an artillery reg-iment also posted in Kashmir, led the procession that carried Jhantu's coffin to the burial ground in Tehatta's Patharghata village. You Can Also Check: Kolkata AQI | Weather in Kolkata | Bank Holidays in Kolkata | Public Holidays in Kolkata "My brother died in the line of duty while trying to neutralise the terrorists who butchered innocent tourists. I will avenge his death," Rafiqul - wearing his Army uniform - said, as hundreds of Muslim and Hindu villagers from Patharghata and beyond heard him in silence. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Invest $200 in Amazon without buying stocks to earn a second salary Marketsall Sign Up Undo Villagers wave National Flag, pay last respects The Indian Army is above all caste and creed. Can anyone say who is Hindu or who is Muslim in the Army? The Indian Army is a place where soldiers from different faiths eat from the same plate; their food is cooked in the same utensil. Come to the Army if you want to see real brotherhood," Rafiqul said. My brother is no more and no one can compensate the loss suffered by his family and children. I am proud that my brother sacrificed his life for the country. You have heard about terrorists identifying Hindus and then killing them. A 10-member team, including my brother, followed intelligence inputs to go to the Dudu-Basantgarh area in Udhampur to eliminate the same terrorists," he told the villagers. Jhantu served in the Indian Army for 14 years. Hundreds of villagers, waving the Tricolour, lined the route from Jhantu and Rafiqul's home to the burial ground and expressed outrage at the Pahalgam massacre . A military vehicle - decked with Jhantu's photographs, flowers and wreaths - rolled into Patharghata at 8 a.m. bearing Jhantu's National Flag-draped coffin.
News18
27-04-2025
- Politics
- News18
Army Subedar Vows To Take 'Revenge From Pakistan' For Soldier Brother Killed In Udhampur Encounter
Last Updated: CM Mamata Banerjee has announced Rs 10 lakh compensation for Havildar Jhantu Ali Shaikh's family and a government job for his wife. When the mortal remains of Havildar Jhantu Shek arrived in his village in Krishnanagar, hundreds of villagers gathered to bid a tearful farewell to the brave soldier. His father and grieving wife broke down in tears beside his coffin. The Indian Army honoured him with a gun salute, but his wife's tears wouldn't stop. Among those who saluted him was his elder brother, Subedar Rafikul Shek. It was Rafikul who had raised Jhantu, and it was under his inspiration that Jhantu had joined the armed forces. Saying goodbye to his younger brother—and fellow soldier—was a moment of profound pain and pride for him. 'I am proud that my brother laid down his life for the country while fighting militants in Udhampur," Rafikul said. 'I salute him, and I promise that justice will be served. I also pledge that his children will follow in his footsteps and serve the nation in the armed forces. We will take revenge against Pakistan. Just as they attacked innocent tourists, just as they killed my brother—we will give them a fitting response." The day 26 tourists were killed in a terrorist attack, Jhantu had spoken to his family and informed them that the Army was on high alert. That very night, he and his team set out to confront the militants. In the early hours of the morning, during an intense gunfight with terrorists in Udhampur, Havildar Jhantu Shek was martyred. 'We are proud to be Indian soldiers," said Subedar Rafikul. 'In the Army, people of all religions stand united. Our Hindu brothers were killed, and we will take revenge—not just for them, not just for my brother—but for every innocent life lost. That is our promise. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has announced Rs 10 lakh compensation for Havildar Jhantu Ali Shaikh's family and a government job for his wife. The terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam left 26 tourists dead. In response to the attack, India took several strong measures against Pakistan, including the suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty, the closure of the Attari border, and the cancellation of visas of Pakistani nationals. First Published: April 27, 2025, 09:39 IST
Time of India
25-04-2025
- Time of India
Body of Nadia paratrooper killed in J&K reaches Kol
1 2 Tehatta (Nadia): The mortal remains of Havaldar Jhantu Ali Sheikh , the paratrooper who laid down his life during an encounter with terrorists in Jammu & Kashmir's Udhampur district, reached Kolkata at 10 pm on Friday night. The martyr's body will be kept in Barrackpore overnight and taken to his native village, Pathar Ghata in Nadia, on Saturday morning where preparations are underway to accord him a hero's welcome and bid him a final farewell. Sheikh, 36, a trooper of the Indian Army's elite 6 Para (Special Forces), was martyred on Thursday during a search operation in the dense Dudu-Basantgarh region. The Army, along with the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), Border Security Force (BSF), and Jammu & Kashmir Police, paid solemn tributes to him at a wreath-laying ceremony held at the 166 Military Hospital in Jammu. Leading the tributes was Major General Shailender Singh, Chief of Staff of the White Knight Corps, who, along with other senior officials, honoured the soldier's sacrifice with military salutes and floral wreaths. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Villas For Sale in Dubai Might Surprise You Villas In Dubai | Search Ads Undo As security forces continue their search for the group of three terrorists believed to be hiding in the Basantgarh belt, back home, an atmosphere of grief has gripped Pathar Ghata. Jhantu's wife, Jhuma Bibi, who had been in Agra, reached her village early on Friday morning with their two children Tanvir, 11, and Rishita, 6. Family members had initially concealed the news from her, telling her that her husband had sustained a bullet injury to the shoulder and was being brought home after surgery. She came to know about the passing away of her husband when she saw garlanded photographs and mourners after reaching her village. According to Amina Sheikh, Jhantu's niece, Jhuma collapsed in grief upon learning the truth. "Bring me poison, we three will take it. You all brought me here with lies," she reportedly cried. Since then, she has been inconsolable. Both the children have been asking about the whereabouts of their father. The tragedy has cast a pall of gloom over the household. Jhantu's mother, unaware of her son's demise, has remained bedridden and delusional, murmuring: "My son is ok, he is at work." His father has withdrawn into silence, briefly speaking to local people coming to pay respects. Preparations are underway near the family home to receive the body with dignity. A pandal and pulpit have been erected next to the village mosque, where the final rites will be held. Neighbours and relatives have been flocking to the house, offering condolences and discussing the sacrifice of a brave son of the soil.
