Despite wearing a bullet-proof vest, an Army Major lost his life while foiling an infiltration bid from across the border in the Mendhar sector of Poonch district last midnight. Two militants were also killed in the encounter, while two others managed to escape.
An open space on the side of the bullet-proof vest that Major Akash Singh of 5 Maratha Light Infantry was wearing proved fatal as a stray bullet sneaked through that space and pierced through his body. This was the 28th infiltration bid from the Pakistan side this year.
A bullet sneaked through a small opening on the side of the vest killing the 34-year-old valiant Army officer, but not before he had shot dead two militants and foiled the infiltration bid, said Brigadier General Staff 16 corps, Brig Gurdeep Singh. The Army is pressing for new design bullet-proof vests that besides covering the open spaces on the sides of the vests would be lighter as well.
A senior Army officer said new vests to prevent casualties in such a freak manner were being acquired.
The encounter took place between the LoC and the fencing in the Sunegali area, 5 km from Mendhar town, Brig Gurdeep Singh said.
This was the second Army casualty this month in cross-border firing and encounter with militants. An Army jawan was killed in Poonch district when the Pakistani troops had resorted to unprovoked firing.
Lt Col Biplab Nath, Defence PRO, said the encounter took place last midnight when three or four terrorists attempted to cross over to the Indian side during night.
He said the martyred officer was an alumni of the Officers Training Academy, Chennai, and was commissioned into 5 Maratha Light Infantry on September 4, 1999. He had rendered 10 years of meritorious service.
In his distinguished career, the officer had served in the terrorist-infested areas in the state and the Northeast. He belonged to Shiv Nagar, Jammu. He is survived by his wife, four-year-old daughter Khushi and two-year-old son Manu.
Major Akash’s father is a retired Deputy Director from the state Cooperative Department. Of the five sons, he was the only one serving in the defence forces. He was cremated with full military honours in Shiv Nagar here this evening.
No comments:
Post a Comment