In his native Bri Kamila village in the border district of Samba, villagers remember Naik Mukesh Singh Manhas as an enthusiastic cricketer, an extrovert and someone who was always ready to extend a helping hand to the needy

General Officer Commanding of the Jammu-based White Knight Corps Lieutenant General Navin Sachdeva lays a wreath at the mortal remains of the two soldiers who were killed in an IED blast near LoC, in Jammu, Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2025. (PTI Photo)

He had returned to his Army unit on January 28 after his engagement and having given final touches to his new house. Just 14 days later, Naik Mukesh Singh Manhas was killed in an IED blast, leaving his family shattered.

The 29-year-old from Jammu and Kashmir’s Samba, who was supposed to get married in April, was killed along with Captain Karamjit Singh Bakshi from Jharkhand’s Ranchi in an improvised explosive device (IED) blast carried out by terrorists near the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu’s Akhnoor sector on Tuesday.

In his native Bri Kamila village in the border district of Samba, villagers remembered Manhas as an enthusiastic cricketer, an extrovert and someone who was always ready to extend a helping hand to the needy.

“He served the Army for more than nine years. He was posted in Siachen glacier (in Ladakh), Kashmir and Punjab, before moving to Akhnoor recently. He returned to his unit on January 28 after a two-week leave from duty for his ring ceremony,” his father Chagatar Singh, a retired policeman, told reporters.

Manhas, whose younger brother is also in the Army, was supposed to get married on April 20, the grieving father said, as his relatives and neighbours made a beeline for their house to convey their condolences.

Chagatar Singh said his son joined the Army at a very young age to fulfil his desire to serve the country.

“His two sisters, one older to him and another younger, are married. He was a cricket lover and made extraordinary efforts during his recent stay in the village to prepare a cricket pitch for the youth,” Mahesh, a childhood friend of the slain soldier, said.

Chuni Lal, another resident of the village, said Manhas was full of energy and always motivated youngsters to get involved in sporting activities.

“We have lost a true gem in a cowardly terror attack. The enemy has no courage to face our brave soldiers and is undertaking such actions. We believe our forces will take appropriate action to ensure justice for the martyrs,” he said.

Officials said the body of Manhas would be taken to his village and his funeral held with full military hours later in the day.