Tearful farewell to gallantry award-winning Army Colonel M N Rai who died fighting militants

The daughter of Col MN Rai cries as she salutes to pay her last respect to his mortal remains during his cremation in the Delhi Cantt on Thursday. Rai was killed in a gunbattle with militants in south Kashmir’s Pulwama district on Tuesday. (Source: PTI)

A day after he was awarded the Yudh Seva medal, Colonel Munindra Nath Rai, Commanding Officer of 42 Rashtriya Rifles, was killed in an encounter with militants at Tral in Pulwama district on Tuesday. (Source: Express photo by Prem Nath Pandey)

Daughter Holding a photograph of Colonel M N Rai during the cremation rai at Brar Square Delhi cantt in new Delhi on Thursday (Source: Express photo by Prem Nath Pandey)

Wife of Colonel M N Rai during the cremation rai at Brar Square Delhi cantt in new Delhi on Thursday (Source: Express photo by Prem Nath Pandey)

In the encounter, a policeman and two militants were also killed. (Source: Express photo by Prem Nath Pandey)

Rai, who took charge of 42 RR on 5 May, 2013, was awarded the Yudh Seva Medal for his “astute professionalism and unparalleled leadership”. (Source: Express photo by Prem Nath Pandey)

A resident of Ghaziabad, Rai is survived by his wife, two daughters — 11 years and eight years — and a six-year-old son. (Source: Express photo by Prem Nath Pandey)

Daughter and son pay Tribute to Colonel M N Rai during the cremation rai at Brar Square Delhi cantt in new Delhi on Thursday (Source: Express photo by Prem Nath Pandey)

During the attack, Colonel M N Rai and his team rushed inside the house where the militants were holed up, he was shot “in the upper body”. (Source: Express photo by Prem Nath Pandey)

Army chief Dalbir Singh Suhag pay Tribute to Colonel M N Rai during the cremation rai at Brar Square Delhi cantt in new Delhi on Thursday (Source: Express photo by Prem Nath Pandey)

“Unfortunately in an operation in Tral, J&K, Indian Army lost a Commanding Officer due to militant action — Col Munindra Nath Rai from 9 Gorkha Rifles who was CO 42 RR. He had been awarded a YSM (Yudh Seva Medal) on 26 Jan 2015,” said an official statement from the Army. (Source: Express photo by Prem Nath Pandey)

Soldiers pay tribute to Colonel M N Rai during the cremation rai at Brar Square Delhi cantt in new Delhi on Thursday (Source: Express photo by Prem Nath Pandey)