Death came calling 2 hrs before ITBP constable was to fly back home

Amost one year had passed since Roshan Lal,the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) constable who was among those killed in the bomb blast in Kabul on Friday,had seen his family....

Amost one year had passed since Roshan Lal,the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) constable who was among those killed in the bomb blast in Kabul on Friday,had seen his family. His wife Nishas prayers for his safe return went unanswered and she now waits for his body,wrapped in the Tricolour,to be flown back to the country.

Village Dentha,in Chawari sub-division of Chamba district,is in shock ever since the news of Roshan Lals death reached them. Roshan Lal had been staying in the Noor guesthouse,targetted by the Taliban bombers who came equipped with suicide vests and automatic rifles killing at least 15 people,including nine Indians.

Lal,who had been serving in Kabul for the last one-and-a-half-year,was dead merely two hours before he could board his flight back to India. He is survived by his wife Nisha and three-year-old son Ashish. It was Nisha who first received the call from Indian officials at Kabul. A person called up around 2.30 pm yesterday and asked her to hand over the phone to someone else in the family. Since no one else was around,the caller had to inform her about the tragedy. Nishas whole world came crashing down around her.

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Lal had spoken to Nisha only two days ago,informing her about his return plans. Preparations were going on at home for his return. He could have returned to the family on Saturday morning had Nishas prayers for his safe journey been answered, says Raj Kumar,Roshan Lals elder brother. He was coming on a months leave and had less than a year left to serve in Kabul.

It was his childhood dream to join the Army and become an officer. He had the qualities of a brave child yet he was very humble and God fearing, recalls father Jagat Ram,a farmer. Before being picked up for his foreign posting at the Indian Consulate,Roshan Lal had served at Kinnaur,bordering China,Bhanu near Chandigarh and Mussoorie.

ITBP personnel,including an officer,have already reached for receiving his body and last rites with full state honour. The District administration is also in touch with the family, Chamba SP Madhu Sudan said. Chief minister Prem Kumar Dhumal,who was at Hamirpur,has sent his condolences to the family assuring them of all possible help.