Nation pays tribute to Pathankot martyrs Lt Col Niranjan, Commando Gursevak

Bengaluru :The body of Lieutenant Colonel E K Niranjan, a bomb expert with the National Security Guard who was killed while defusing a grenade at the scene of the terror attack at Pathankot IAF base, was brought to Bengaluru on Monday.

The last rites will be performed at his hometown in Palakkad in Kerala.

“The body arrived at Bengaluru International Airport early this morning between 12.40 am and 1 am. We brought the body wrapped in the Indian Tricolor to our house,” E K Sivarajan, the martyr’s father, told reporters here.
“He was always interested in the army. I am proud of his sacrifice,” Sivarajan said.

Niranjan’s sister said, “I look at him as Arjuna (3rd of the Pandava brothers) who fought for his karmabhoomi.”
Fellow Army officers in uniform and many prominent and eminent personalities including Rajeev Chandrashekhar, MP, paid tributes to the martyr at his residence.

Thirty two-year-old Niranjan, who has his family in Bangalore, was commissioned in the Engineers Regiment of the Army in 2004.

He hailed from Palakkad in Kerala and is survived by his wife Dr Radhika and a 18-month-old daughter.

Niranjan, head of the elite bomb squad of the NSG, was killed while defusing an IED at Pathankot IAF base, yesterday. He was among seven security personnel killed in the terrorist attack there.

The martry’s father Sucha Singh, who is a farmer, had earlier stated that he was proud that his son had laid down his life for the country.

Sucha Singh said that he received information about Gursewak’s martyrdom from his elder son, who is an officer in the Army.

“My boy had gone to serve the nation. I am proud of him. He has done his duty. We are sad too. Our elder son is also in the Army serving the nation. My younger son gave his life for the country. He was always good in studies and always wanted to join the Air Force,” Sucha said.

Gursewak’s cousin Harikrishan Singh said, “He did his engineering in Bengaluru… We have lost one warrior.”
Gursewak, who was described as an intelligent and bright youth, by his father, had cleared the Air Force examination in the first attempt.

Haryana’s Health Minister Vij said the whole nation will remember the sacrifice of son-of-the-soil.

PTI