5 days ago
‘Live battle opportunity': Major PR Rahul calls Operation Sindoor ‘thrilling', says priority was evacuating people from border areas
THRISSUR: Major P R Rahul, from Puthoor in the district, on Wednesday said he was thrilled to have participated in India's recent military action
Operation Sindoor
.
Major Rahul has been serving in the Army for the last eight years and was deployed in the artillery regiment just 8km from the Pakistan border during the operation.
'It was a fantastic and thrilling experience. It was a sort of once in a lifetime opportunity to participate in a live battle. At the same time, it was more concerning for the civilians as they were involved not by force, but by virtue of being there. Our concern was for them,' Rahul told TOI. He is presently visiting his family at Puthur.
'The operation was quite professionally dealt with, and we could achieve what we wanted to,' he said.
'We said in the beginning that we would give a befitting reply at the time and place of our choosing, and went into the planning. Our concern was to evacuate most people living along the border to safer places,' said Rahul.
On the affected people's response to the operation, he said, 'They are always supportive. They told us that we could use all their resources, their houses and everything. Most people living there had previously served in the Army, and knew the dynamics.
They even volunteered to come and help us in terms of any requirement: manpower, fuel, food, shelter or anything else. That was even more encouraging for us.'
Son of Puthur Poluvalappil Raveendranathan and Sheeja, Rahul was felicitated by DCC president Joseph Tajet and other Congress functionaries for his contributions during Operation Sindoor. He was also given a reception by the residents' association at Puthur on Wednesday morning.
