Kashmir: Army pays tributes to four soldiers killed in encounters on Tuesday

A day after four soldiers were killed in two separate encounters in the Valley, the army paid rich tributes to its martyrs.

Among the dead was Major Satish Dahiya who succumbed to injuries in an encounter in which three militants were gunned down, in north Kashmir’s Handwara on Tuesday evening.

Rifleman Ravi Kumar, paratrooper Dharmender Kumar and gunner Astosh Kumar were killed on Tuesday morning in an encounter in which one militant was gunned down, in Bandipora district.

In a ceremony at Badami Bagh Cantonment in Srinagar, the Chinar Corps Commander Lt Gen JS Sandhu and senior officials from other security forces, paid homage to the slain soldiers.

“They chose the Valentine’s Day to seal their love for their country. To these bravehearts, no price was too high for her safety. To weed out terror from their motherland, they would not think twice even to put their lives on the line… They lived for the country and they died fighting for her,” said an army statement.

The statement added that the mortal remains of the martyrs will be taken to their native places for last rites with full military honours.

“The Army stands in solidarity with the bereaved families and remains committed to their dignity and wellbeing,” the statement said.

Major Satish Dahiya

The army statement said that Major Dahiya (31) was a native of Mahendergarh, Haryana and is survived by his wife and a two-year-old daughter.

“Maj Dahiya had lead the operation launched by Army in Handwara yesterday which eventually resulted in the elimination of three terrorists thus delivering a major blow to the terror network in North Kashmir,” an army spokesman said.

A gallantry award winner, the officer had been part of several counter terror operations, he added.

Gunner Astosh Kumar

Kumar (25) was a native of Jaunpur in Uttar Pradesh and is survived by his mother, Shila Devi. His father, Havildar Lal Sahib, was killed during the Kargil war in 1999.

“His father’s sacrifice only strengthened his resolve to join the Army which he did at the tender age of 19 years,” the army statement said.

Paratrooper Dharmender Kumar

Kumar (26) was a native of Nainital in Uttarakhand.

“The young paratrooper, who defied his 26 years of age and had established himself, amongst his comrades, as a spirited and daring soldier, is survived by his parents,” the army statement said.

Rifleman Ravi Kumar

Rifleman Kumar (33) was a son of the soil, hailing from Samba district of Jammu and Kashmir. He is survived by his wife and a three-year-old daughter.