In a tragic turn of events, two soldiers, Captain Karamjit Singh Bakshi and Naik Mukesh Singh Manhas, lost their lives in an IED explosion triggered by terrorists along the Line of Control (LoC) in Akhnoor sector on Tuesday. Both men…

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In a tragic turn of events, two soldiers, Captain Karamjit Singh Bakshi and Naik Mukesh Singh Manhas, lost their lives in an IED explosion triggered by terrorists along the Line of Control (LoC) in Akhnoor sector on Tuesday. Both men were set to marry in April.

RIP brave heart

Capt Karamjit Singh Bakshi who died in an IED blast on LoC in Akhnoor along with Naik Mukesh. He was the only Son.

He was to get married on 05th April 2025.

“To every man upon this earth
Death cometh soon or late.
And how can man die better?
Then facing fearful odds,
For the ashes of his fathers,
And the temples of his Gods.”

Jai Hind

A pall of sorrow descended on Mukesh’s home in Kamila village, Samba district, where his family had been eagerly preparing for his wedding. His father, Chagatar Singh, overwhelmed with grief, recalled, “Mukesh wanted to join the Army since his childhood and was very fond of cricket. He had served in Ladakh, Punjab, and Kashmir before moving to Akhnoor. He returned to his duty on January 28 after completing the housework for his wedding. He was supposed to marry in April, around the 20th or 21st.”

Chagatar Singh shared, “He was a cricket lover, and during his last visit, he even worked hard to prepare a cricket pitch for the youth of the village.” Villagers remembered Mukesh as an enthusiastic cricketer and an extroverted soul who always extended a helping hand. The news of Mukesh’s death sent shockwaves through Kamila, a close-knit village where the tragedy was deeply felt. Mukesh’s mortal remains reached his village, and the final rites were performed by the family later today.

The loss was compounded by the tragic coincidence of Captain Karamjit Singh Bakshi’s death. The 29-year-old, from Jharkhand’s Ranchi, had been awaiting his own wedding. He had just returned to duty after finalising preparations for his marriage. His family, who were expecting a celebration, are now grappling with an unimaginable loss.

Karamjit’s father, Ajninder Singh Bakshi, recalled his son’s dedication and sacrifice. Karamjit, the only son, had left his home in Hazaribagh after his engagement to a medical officer in the Army. As news of his death spread, residents of Hazaribagh gathered at his home to pay their respects. The grief was palpable as the community collectively mourned the loss of a young man.

Captain Karamjit’s mortal remains were scheduled to arrive in Ranchi by late Wednesday evening, with the final rites planned for Thursday. In the wake of these tragedies, the families of both Captain Bakshi and Naik Manhas are left to mourn the loss of their sons, whose lives were stolen before they could begin the new chapter in their lives.

(With PTI inputs)