The Army pays tributes to the two slain soldiers in Srinagar on Monday. Tribune Photo: Amin War

Tribune News Service

Srinagar, February 13

The Army today paid rich tributes to the two jawans who were killed in an encounter with militants in south Kashmir’s Kulgam district on Sunday.A defence spokesman said the Army paid homage to gallant soldiers Lance Naik Bhandoriya Gopal Sinh Munimsinh and Sepoy Raghubeer Singh at Badami Bagh Cantonment in Srinagar.“Major General KK Pant, Chief of Staff, Chinar Corps, laid wreaths on behalf of the Commander and all ranks of the Corps,” he said, adding that tributes were also paid by officials from the civil administration and other security agencies.The spokesman said the two jawans showed raw courage during the operation. “It called for raw courage to approach the house when it had been confirmed that terrorists were hiding there —- even more so when the response had to be very guarded given the fact that the terrorists had held a hostage in that house. Lance Naik B Gopal and Sepoy Raghubeer Singh epitomised just that form of selfless courage as they were leading the team that launched the operation in Frisal, Kulgam, yesterday in which four terrorists were eliminated. The duo embraced martyrdom while fighting the terrorists who opened indiscriminate fire as the security forces closed in on the suspect house,” the spokesman said.The 33-year-old Lance Naik B Gopal from Gokulchand Chali Chamanpura village in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, is survived by his wife B Hemavati. Sepoy Raghubeer Singh (31) belonged to Makholi village in Chamoli, Uttarakhand, and is survived by his wife Rekha and a six-year-old son.“The Army salutes the sacrifice of the martyrs and stands in solidarity with the bereaved families and it will forever remain the Army’s responsibility to ensure that they lead a life of dignity and pride,” the spokesman said.The mortal remains of the jawans are being taken to their native places for the last rites, he said.

Displayed raw courage

• It called for raw courage to approach the house when it had been confirmed that terrorists were hiding there — even more so when the response had to be very guarded given the fact that the terrorists had held a hostage in that house. Lance Naik B Gopal and Sepoy Raghubeer Singh epitomised just that form of selfless courage as they were leading the team that launched the operation in Frisal, Kulgam, on Sunday in which four terrorists were eliminated. —Army spokesman