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Tribune News Service
Jammu/Rajouri, June 18
Two days after the martyred Rifleman Aurangzeb’s father made a passionate appeal to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to avenge his son’s killing, Army Chief General Bipin Rawat on Monday said the supreme sacrifice rendered by “the brave son of India” would not go in vain.
General Rawat, who visited the martyr’s family at Salani village in Poonch district, spent about 45 minutes with the parents and elder brother of Aurangzeb, who was abducted and killed by militants in south Kashmir last week. During the closed-door meeting, none of the civil and police officers, including the DC and SSP, was allowed to enter the room.
“The Army Chief reached Salani village around 11.30 am and remained with the family till 12.15 pm. Mediapersons were kept away from the village and district and police officers were barred from entering the room,” a source said.
The source said the Army Chief is believed to have handed over an ex gratia cheque to Aurangzeb’s father Mohammad Hanif, who is an ex-serviceman, and also assured him of the transfer of the martyr’s elder brother Mohammad Qasim from Pune to the nearest unit operating in the Mendhar sector.
“The Chief of Army Staff’s (COAS) visit was aimed at boosting the morale of the martyr’s family, soldiers and people living near Line of Control,” the source said.
A defence spokesperson said, “Speaking to the father of the braveheart, the COAS assured the family of all possible assistance. He also assured the family that the supreme sacrifice rendered by the brave son of India would not go in vain.”
Rifleman Aurangzeb, posted at the 44 Rashtriya Rifles camp at Shadimarg in Shopian, was abducted and killed by militants in south Kashmir’s Pulwama district when he was on way his home to celebrate Eid with his family members on June 14.
His father and brother had pleaded with the Prime Minister to avenge his death by eliminating those behind the heinous act. While the father, in an emotional plea, asserted that the entire family was ready to sacrifice their lives for the nation but terrorism must end in the Kashmir Valley, the brother said if the government failed to take a swift action, he would avenge Aurangzeb’s death himself.
Meanwhile, General Rawat also visited forward areas in J&K on Monday and was briefed by Lt Gen Saranjeet Singh, GOC, White Knight Corps, on the prevailing security situation. Northern Command chief Lt Gen Ranbir Singh accompanied the Army Chief during his visit.
“The Army Chief, during his visit to the forward areas, interacted with soldiers and complimented them on their professionalism, selfless commitment and loyalty. He exhorted the troops to continue to work with zeal and dedication to overcome the challenges posted by weather, enemy and terrorism,” the spokesperson said.
The Army Chief appreciated the synergy between all security agencies and civil administration in Jammu and Kashmir.
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