Navjot Singh

Sanjiv Kumar Bakshi

Hoshiarpur, July 28

The AN-32 transport plane of the Indian Air Force, which went missing on Friday, has Garhshankar-based non combatant enrolled (NCE) Navjot Singh on board. He had joined the force a year ago.Navjot had come home on June 9 and returned to his unit on July 5 after celebrating his 20th birthday on June 27. His mother Narita Devi, who stays at her maternal home, his grandmother Sudarshana, uncles Shiv Raj Rana and Ranjit Singh Rana are in a state of shock and disbelief.They all are praying for his safety. His mother Narita said Navi always wanted to join the IAF as he was inspired by his maternal uncle Ranjit Singh Rana who also served the force.She said: “My son is the youngest in the family and in his unit too. He told us that everyone in the unit loved him and seniors took good care of him. He is just a child as he doesn’t even know what to do with his salary.”Navi had last called his mother just before boarding the plane. He had told her that there were only two seats left in the plane and he was offered to come on board.Relatives and acquaintances of the family are thronging their house located at Bhattan Mohalla in Ward No. 12.His uncle Shiv Raj said: “We are praying for his safe return. We will not allow him to go back.” He said the government was doing its best to search the plane. “We are getting regular updates from the IAF authorities, but we are getting apprehensive with each passing day. If needed, the government can take help from other countries to search the plane,” he added.Garhshankar SDM Hardeep Singh Dhaliwal also visited Navi’s family and assured all help.