Srinagar : Army Wednesday paid tribute to three soldiers killed in Kashmir in the line of duty.
In a statement army said that in a solemn ceremony at BB Cantonment, Lt General BS Raju, Chinar Corps Commander along with Dilbag Singh, Director General of Police Jammu and Kashmir and all ranks paid homage to three soldiers. Two were killed in Kreeri encounter while the body of another was found under snow in Gulmarg who had disappeared after a snow avalanche hit an army post.
The soldiers killed in Kreeri Baramulla encounter were Grenadier Ravi Kumar Singh and Grenadier Prashant Singh who according to statement issued to KNT were leading the search team in pursuit of militants who had opened indiscriminate fire on a joint checkpoint of the CRPF and the Police at Kreeri on 17 August.
Late Grenadier Ravi Kumar Singh was 26 years old and had joined the Army on 20 June 2013. He belonged to Village Gaura of Sadar Tehsil, Mirzapur District in Uttar Pradesh and is survived by his wife, Priyanka Singh and a daughter.
Late Grenadier Prashant Singh was 25 years old and had joined the Army on 23 Sep 2014. He belonged to Village Gawana of Paonta Sahib Tehsil, Sirmaur District in Himachal Pradesh and is survived by his parents.
Another soldier late Havildar Rajendra Singh (39) while on a patrol along the Line of Control was caught in a severe snow blizzard on 8 Jan 2020 in Rampur Sector of North Kashmir. He lost his footing and fell down a deep gorge. Owing to the inclement weather, heavy snowfall and high altitude mountainous terrain, multiple rescue attempts made subsequently had failed. The teams were unable to reach the spot which had got buried under snow owing to the severe winters through the season. The mortal remains of Havildar Rajendra Singh were finally recovered on 15 August 2020, while still buried under two feet of snow.
Hailing from Village Ambiwala of Dehradun District, Uttrakhand, late Havildar Rajendra Singh had joined the Army in 2001. He is survived by his wife, two daughters and a son.
He was enrolled into the Garhwal Regimental Centre on 10 Dec 2001 and after completion of his training, joined his parent unit 11 Garhwal Rifles.
The mortal remains of these soldiers were taken for last rites to their native places, where they would be laid to rest with full military honours. (KNT)
