Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR/ UDHAMPUR, July 31: The Army today paid rich tributes to the two soldiers who were martyred during encounter with terrorists near the Line of Control in Nowgam sector of north Kashmir in district Kupwara on Saturday.
Defence spokesperson, Col NN Joshi here said that Army paid befitting tributes to Sepoy Babloo Singh and Sepoy Vishal Chaudhary in a solemn wreath laying ceremony at Badami Bagh cantonment in Srinagar this morning.
He said Lt Gen Satish Dua, Chinar Corps Commander and all ranks paid homage to the national heroes on behalf of a proud nation.
“They were both cross country runners par excellence and knew exactly what to do with those who attempted to cross into their country treacherously.
Highly motivated, skilled marksmen, Sepoy Singh and Chaudhary were part of the Army’s Quick Reaction Team (QRT) that had intercepted and eliminated two infiltrating militants in Nowgam sector yesterday,” he said.
Col Joshi said unfortunately they were both grievously injured in the ensuing fire fight and later succumbed to their injuries.
“29-year-old Sep Singh, had joined the Army at a tender age of 18 years and in these 11 years of his service, had earned a reputation amongst his comrades of being a daredevil having been part of a number of operations against militants in his parent unit as also during his previous tenure with the Rashtriya Rifles,” the Defence spokesperson added.
“He was a keen sportsman too, and was part of his units wrestling team. The departed soldier, hailing from Mathura in UP is survived by his wife Ravita Devi and two children, 6-year-old son and 5-year-old daughter,” he said.
Col Joshi said Sepoy Chaudhary, 30 years, too had joined the Army young during 2004 and was again an experienced soldier in Counter Militant Operations having served in an RR unit earlier.
“An ace shooter, he had been part of his unit’s firing team. The martyr belonged to Bulandshaher, UP and is survived by his wife Madhu Singh and triplets that they were blessed with in 2010 – two daughters and a son,” Col Joshi said.
“The mortal remains of the martyrs will be flown for last rites to their native places where they will be laid to rest with full military honours,” Defence spokesman added.
Meanwhile, Army also paid tributes to its two soldiers who attained martyrdom in Kargil sector. These soldiers were caught in the mines near the LoC. During patrol in a forward location, Subedar Bassapa Patil- patrol leader and Sepoy Hasansab Khudavant, the leading scout, suffered grevious injuries in mine blast, which proved fatal.
Defence PRO, Northern Command, Udhampur Col S D Goswami said that in a solemn wreath laying ceremony held at Leh today, the two brave hearts were honoured by all ranks of 14 Corps. The mortal remains of two martyrs were flown to their native places where they will be accorded military funerals with full ceremonial honours.
Subdedar Basappa hailed from Gokak tehsil in Belgam in Karnataka while Sepoy Hasansab belonged to Saidapur village in tehsil Navalgund of district Dharwad in Karnataka, Col Goswami added.
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