‘He has gone while trying to get a better life for us’: Married five months ago, Ludhiana soldier dies in Kashmir Op

Back home in Punjab, the wails of mourning villagers filled the air at Manupur in Samrala sub-division Saturday as the news of Pritpal’s passing reached his family. Wrapped in tricolor, his mortal remains are expected to reach the village Sunday and the cremation will be performed with full military honors.

Speaking to The Indian Express, Harpreet Singh, his elder brother said: “Parivaar da karde karde aap turr gaya (He has gone while trying to earn a better life for family). He got married just five months ago in February.

“His newly-wedded wife is inconsolable. We have seen too much poverty and our father is a daily-wager. He had joined the Army after passing class 12 so that our family’s financial condition could improve.”

According to the Army statement, Lance Naik Pripal Singh from 19 Rashtriya Rifles (Sikh Light Infantry), died “on August 8 during intermittent and intense exchange of fire with terrorists” after he “sustained severe splinter injury when hiding terrorists lobbed a grenade.” He later succumbed.

Harpreet said that his brother’s only wish was to see their father Harbans Singh fully cured of the oral cancer he has been suffering from.

“He ensured that my father got the best treatment from the Army hospital. I spoke to him last on August 7, hours before the incident, and even then he told me to take care of my father and others in the family. We had asked him to come home for Raksha Bandhan festivities but he said it won’t be possible as he was in the middle of an important operation and he had to catch those terrorists first. He had promised to take leave after the Operation and come home for Diwali. But now he won’t,” said Harpreet, crying inconsolably.

Harpreet said that even as his brother had taken a bank loan and got their house renovated few months ago around his marriage in February, he himself hardly stayed in it. “He hardly stayed in the renovated house. We were waiting for his arrival on Diwali to celebrate together. Mera bhraa turr gaya (My brother is gone forever),” he said.

Harbans Singh, father of the deceased soldier said: “Saade baare sochda sochda chala gaya (He has left the world worrying for us). He had promised to come home on Diwali. We were waiting.”

Pritpal is survived by old parents — father Harbans Singh and sister Kuldeep Kaur, wife Manpreet Kaur, elder brother Harpreet Singh and younger brother Gurdeep Singh.

Harpreet, who works at a private factory, says: “What can we demand from the government now. We have lost everything. Everyone knows that terrorists in our country are being sent by Pakistan. Instead of conducting these operations, our government should take full-fledged action against the neighboring country and go all out to teach them a lesson. How long can this go?”

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