Bengaluru: A Lieutenant Colonel of the National Security Guard, Niranjan Kumar, died Sunday morning during combing operations at the Air Force Base in Pathankot.
While speaking to ANI, the sister of the Martyr said it is great loss for her family adding that at one hand she has lost him but on the other hand her brother has made her family and the country proud.
“He had struggled in his personal as well as professional life. At one hand, I have lost him but on the other hand he has made us feel proud. It is a great loss as I feel every year these people are losing their lives. I don’t want to say anything to the government as everything is politicised, said Sister of NSG Lt Col Niranjan Kumar.
“From the beginning he was very much interested in joining the army. He was deputed to NSG. Today we got a call from the Air force that he is no more,” Niranjan’s father told ANI here.
Kumar, a resident of Kerala and a member of the bomb disposal squad, was defusing the grenade during the combing operations.
Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Sunday had expressed pain over the demise of Lt. Col. Niranjan of NSG.
“Pained to know about the demise of Lt. Col. Niranjan of NSG during mopping out operations at Pathankot. The nation salutes his sacrifice,” Rajnath tweeted.
Kerala Chief Minister Oomen Chandy also expressed grief over Niranjan’s death.
“Deeply saddened about the loss of Lt Colonel #NiranjanKumar. Sharing the grief of family,” Chandy tweeted.
Meanwhile, the Indian Air Force (IAF) on Sunday confirmed that the operation is still underway, adding that a total of seven security personnel have been martyred so far.
Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar also briefed Prime Minister Narendra Modi today about the ongoing attack at the Air Force Base in Pathankot where two terrorists are believed to be holed up and a fierce counter-operation is underway to smoke them out.
The strike that triggered a 15-hour gunbattle on Saturday is believed to have been an attempt to undo recent progress in India’s relationship with Pakistan. (ANI)