Nikhil Bhardwaj ribune News Service

Pall of gloom descended on Manupur village, in Khanna as an Indian Army soldier, Lance Naik Pritpal Singh, was martyred on Friday night during an anti-terrorist operation in the dense forests of Kulgam, Jammu and Kashmir. The operation has been ongoing since August 1.

The family was informed of the death by the Army at around 5 am on Saturday morning and was left in deep shock. The 29-year-old martyred soldier joined the Army in 2015. He had been married for only six months and leaves behind his elderly parents and wife, Manpreet Kaur. His uncle and aunt also retired from the military.

After hearing the news of her husband’s demise, Manpreet was left inconsolable. Everyone burst into tears seeing her hands still adorned with the customary wedding bangles and mehendi for the festive season. His father, while mourning the immense loss, said,” I salute my son’s martyrdom for the country. My son will never return now, but he sacrificed his life for nation.”

Pritpal Singh’s elder brother, Manpreet Singh, while talking to mediapersons, said they last spoke to him on Friday and Pritpal had apprised them of the ongoing shootout with the terrorists. “He had told us that the Indian Army would soon eliminate the terrorists,” he said.

Pritpal’s wife shared that Pritpal was supposed to come home at the end of the month as they had planned to celebrate all the upcoming festivals together, including their first Diwali as a married couple, but those dreams were left shattered.

Pritpal’s brother Harpreet Singh said they were three brothers. The whole family was dependent on Pritpal. “My brother had joined the Army as soon as he passed class XII in 2015. We had told him that it is Rakhi and that he should come home to celebrate but he had said he will come on Diwali,” he said, adding that, “I am proud of my brother. He sacrificed his life for the country. The Indian Army should eliminate the terrorists.”

Pritpal Singh’s cremation is expected to be performed at Manupur village on Sunday.