Pathankot martyrs: In the words of their family members

Seven brave soldiers laid down their lives for the country, fighting suspected Jaish-e-Mohammad terrorists inside the Pathankot Air Base. Their lives were cut short as they fell to bullets fired by terrorists who infiltrated the air base on Saturday morning. As things stand, at least six terrorists have been killed and sanitising operations are still underway inside the base. The operation has gone well over over 48 hours now. Here is a brief profile of the martyrs in the words of their family members.

Kulwant Singh: First home posting in 30 years cut short

Family Members of martyr Defence Security Corps (DSC) Kulwant Singh mourning at his house at Chak sharif village near Gurdaspur on Sunday. (Source: PTI)

“He never told us anything about any security threat at the Pathankot air base, and was happy to get a posting here. He got a poster size photo and asked me to keep it,” Kulwant Singh’s wife said, her eyes welling with tears. “Now we will use the photo to remember him.” Read more here

Fateh Singh’s daughter: We heard gunfire and came out to look for Papa

Family Members of Martyr Defence Security Corps (DSC) Fateh Singh (inset) mourning at his house in Gurdaspur on Sunday.PTI

“… They told us he was admitted to hospital with a bullet injury but he was fine. We waited all day and when my mother insisted on meeting my father, she was told only today (Sunday) about his death while we came to know about it in the evening,” said his daughter Madhu Radha, 23. Read more here

Gursewak Singh’s wife: He said he would call later…

“I had called him Friday evening but he disconnected my phone and sent a text that he would call later. Unhone kaha, phone karunga. Par agar phone nahi aaya, to so jaana. Aur phone nahi aaya (He had said he will call. If I don’t call, go to sleep. And the call never came),” said Jaspreet Kaur, 26, wife of Corporal Gursewak, as her eyes welled up with tears. Read more here

Jagdish Chand: Neutralised one terrorist before being shot dead

“We have been told by the Air Force that Jagdish Chand had exhibited extraordinary valour on Saturday. He did not care for his own life to save a huge defence establishment,” said Deputy Commissioner (Chamba) M Sudha Devi. Read more here

Lt Col Niranjan Kumar’s father:  He said he was in an op… would call me back

The uniform of India’s National Security Guard commando Niranjan Kumar, who was among those killed in the attack on the Pathankot air force base is placed on his coffin draped in an Indian flag, in Bangalore, India, Monday, Jan. 4, 2016. (Source: AP)

“We lost our mother when he was four years old and he had a difficult life. The country shouldn’t just remember him as a soldier who laid down his life, but as a man who faced a lot of struggles to achieve his dream,” said Niranjan’s sister, Bhagya Lakshmi. She said Niranjan was like Mahabharat’s Arjuna, who fought in his karmabhoomi. Read more here