‘How long will we keep losing sons’: Father of Bihar soldier killed in Anantnag encounter

Deepak (34) had joined the Army in 2008. His elder brother, Devendra, is also in the Army. Deepak is survived by his wife Anita and their nine-year-old son. He had last come to his village two months ago.

“I have lost my son. I will be going to Patna on Monday with some members of the family to receive the mortal remains of my martyr son,” Suresh Rai told The Indian Express.

He said the Central government should take a long-term approach to the problems in J&K. “The government should think of some long-term plan to deal with militancy in Jammu and Kashmir. How long will fathers like me keep losing their sons,” he asked.

Rai also urged the government to take care of Deepak’s wife and son. “Deepak hardly had any savings. He would send me money off and on as he had his family responsibilities as well. He wanted to build a good pucca house at the village, but he hardly had money for it,” said Rai, a farmer who has just about two bighas of agricultural land.