‘Was expecting him back home for his child’s birth’: Kin of soldier killed in Kashmir encounter

Pradeep was a para commando and hailed from Haryana’s Jind district’s Jajanwal village. He got married two years ago and the couple were expecting a child. Pradeep’s uncle Sushil Nain said that he always wanted to join the Army and dream finally came true in 2015. “Everyone back home was expecting him to return for the birth of his first child,” Sushil added.

His mortal remains are expected to reach his native village today evening. Chief minister Nayab Singh Saini has expressed his condolences to the bereaved family. In a post on social media platform X, the CM wrote: “I pay my tribute to Haryana’s beloved son, Paramilitary Commando Pradeep Nain, resident of village Jajanwala Narwana (Jind), who attained martyrdom in an encounter with terrorists in Kulgam, Jammu and Kashmir. His supreme sacrifice for Maa Bharati will always be a source of inspiration.”

He added, “I pray to God to give a place in his feet to the martyred soul and provide immense strength to the bereaved family to bear this loss.”

Pradeep Nain joined the Army in 2015.

The family has been preparing for his last rites and relatives and villagers reached their home in the village to convey their condolences.

On Saturday, according to the Jammu and Kashmir police, the first encounter took place in Modergam village on Saturday afternoon, while in the evening, firing began at Frisal village.

According to officials, contact with militants was established during a cordon and search operation in Frisal, leading to an exchange of fire. Sources said that in both locations, the militants were holed up inside a house. In one of the encounters, security forces had to blast the house to flush them out, sources said.