Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar on Tuesday met the family of Garud Commando Gursewak Singh who was killed in Pathankot terror attack, promising a job to one member and a memorial for the slain soldier.
Khattar along with Health Minister Anil Vij, who represents Ambala Cantt assembly constituency, reached Gursewak’s native Garnala village here this morning.
He expressed his condolence to the bereaved family. The chief minister assured Gursewak’s father Sucha Singh that a job would be provided to any one member of the family.
He also said that a memorial would be set up.
Khattar said that Haryana and the entire country were proud of the “supreme sacrifice” by 25-year-old Gursewak.
He noted that Gursewak came from a family which has a tradition of making contribution to the defence forces as his elder brother Hardeep Singh is in the Army while father Sucha Singh too is an ex-serviceman.
Khattar assured Gursewak’s father that the entire country was with them in this hour of grief.
Gursewak had married in November last year.
When reporters asked him about Pathankot terror incident, Khattar said that India was all for peace, “but there are some elements who are against peace initiatives we make and they keep fomenting trouble”.
When asked if India should stop having talks with Pakistan in the wake of Pathankot incident, Khattar said that it was for the Centre to take a call on the matter.
At the same time, he added, Pathankot incident was a serious one and cannot be ignored.
Pathankot attack: Parrikar admits ‘gaps’ in security, says terrorists used ‘Pak-made’ equipment :
Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar on Tuesday admitted to “blind spots” and “some gaps” that led to the terror attack on the Pathankot Air Force base in which all the six infiltrators have been killed.
Addressing a press conference at the Air Force base, Parrikar who was accompanied by Army chief General Dalbir Singh Suhag said the terrorists were armed with AK 47, under barrel grenades, knives, swiss knives commando knives and at least 40 to 50 kilograms of bullets, besides three to four dozens of magazines.
Parikkar said combing operation was on. “This (combing operation) is only for safety purpose,” he said, adding that the operation was aimed at destroying live and unexploded forms of explosives, some of which he said was very “high quality”. “One of the terrorists has still had body vest where they (security forces) can see a grenade stuck up…I am very very clear they should not take any risk. We have already lost one person in booby trap so no more losses. Parikkar said though combing operation was likely to end on Wednesday, it would be the call of the NSG commanders. He pointed out that combing operation was very difficult because bomb disposal suit cannot be worn for more than 10 to 15 minutes as it heats up the body. He congratulated the security forces for doing an “excellent job of containing these highly motivated terrorist on suicide mission within practically 250 meter by 250 meter” in the operation. Parikkar said the operation was done without compromising any asset. He said not only strategic asset, but other buildings were also safe. Only one building, Parikkar said, where a terrorist was hiding was damaged a bit. “The kind of complex structure which exists in that area ….when I saw it now, it is a commendable job because of so many blind spots.. you just cannot stop someone from running away from that area,” Parikkar said, adding that he would like media to be taken to the operation site once the combing operation was over. He termed the death of Gursewak as operational loss and of 5 DSCs due to timing and “more of a bad luck”. Underlining that Jagdish Chand gave priority to the country, Parikkar said, “I congratulate Jagdish Chand. Jagdish Chand virtually grappled with terrorist and killed him… courageous… and country was before his own life.” Parikkar said all those killed in the operation would deemed to be considered as “battle casualty” and would get benefits as are given in war like situation. He said Punjab government had also announced Rs 25 lakh and jobs for their kin. Responding to a query on bilateral talks between India and Pakistan, Parikkar said the decision would be taken after the NIA probe. He added that some of the material recovered was made in Pakistan. “To whom the terrorists were related, who sent them would be cleared once the investigation is complete and then we will take a call on such issues (bilateral talks),” he said. “I can see some gaps, but I do not think we have compromised with security. Security forces were well prepared to guard such a huge complex spread in 1900 acres and having a periphery of 24.7 kilometers,” Parrikar said. “My worry is how they were managed to enter. I congratulate (security forces that) they managed to contain them in corner (but I am) still worried how they managed to enter,” Parikkar said, adding that NIA investigations would make things clearer. To a question about terrorists entering the airbase despite information about them well in advance, Parrikar said, “Army cannot perform civil duty to set up check posts on the passages”. He refused to comment on the state government’s role saying he was union Defence Minister.
6terrorists have been neutralized in this operation.Combing operations underway for safety purpose-Manohar Parrikar
Lt Colonel Niranjan laid to rest with full state honours
Palakkad (Ker), Jan 5 (PTI) People bid an emotional farewell to Lieutenant Colonel E K Niranjan, who was killed while defusing a grenade during the terror attack at the Pathankot IAF base, as he was today laid to rest with full military honours at his ancestral home near here.The body of the 32-year-old bomb expert with the National Security Guard was buried on the premises of his paternal home at Elambulassery here, amidst chanting of Hare Rama Hare krishna mantras.He was accorded full military honours, including gun salute as Army personnel sounded the bugle.Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala represented the state government at the funeral ceremony.Niranjans father E K Sivarajan and his other relatives were among those present at the programme.Earlier in the day, the body was kept at the KUP School where hundreds of people, including school children, lined up to pay their homage.
Chief Minister Oommen Chandy and his cabinet colleagues K Babu and A P Anil Kumar visited the house and paid homage late last night.
Yesterday, after the mortal remains were brought here from Bengaluru in a helicopter, it was taken to the ancestral village in a flower-decked army truck.People lined up in many places on both sides of the road to have a glimpse of the brave-heart and threw flowers as a mark of respect.Emotional scenes were witnessed when the body reached Elambulassery with locals thronging the roads and throwing flowers on the cortege and raising patriotic slogans in many places.Niranjan was commissioned in the Engineers Regiment of the Army in 2004. Niranjan, head of the elite bomb squad of the NSG, was killed while defusing an IED at Pathankot IAF base, yesterday. He was among seven security personnel killed in the terrorist attack there.He is survived by his wife and an 18-month-old daughter. PTI COR/LGK JRK BN DBS
Kerala man arrested for derogatory comment about Pathankot martyr Lt Col Niranjan
Police arrested a 24-year-old for posting derogatory comments about Lt Col Niranjan Kumar.
Lt Col Niranjan Kumar laid down his life fighting terrorists who attacked the Pathankot Air Force station on January 2, 2016 and the new year began in grief for the country.
Social media users across the nation have been saluting Niranjan and other 6 martyers of the Pathankot terror attack for their sacrifice. In the comments section of one such post Anwar Sadhik posted derogatory comments about Niranjan.His comment said “One trouble less, now! His wife will be given financial aid and a job, common man gets nothing! What a stinking democracy!”
Malappuram district police arrested 24-year-old Anwar on charges of sedition (Section 124A of the Indian Penal Code) from his house in Kodur around 1.30 pm today.
He was bashed on social media by others and his profile said he worked for a Malayalam newspaper Madhyamam. It was the management of the newspaper that filed a complaint against Anwar Sadhik, denying he never worked for them.Anwar works as a salesman in a ration shop. He mentioned he works with Madhyamam so that people would take him seriously. He didn’t realise he could get into trouble for the comment, reports Azhimukham.Lt Col Niranjan, who was with NSG’s bomb detection squad, will be laid to rest at Elambulassery, a village in Palakkad district of Kerala today.
Pathankot: Tribute paid to NSG martyr Lt. Col. Niranjan in Palakad
The slain officer’s body was flown in from Bengalaru yesterday where hundreds of people thronged the BEL grounds to pay homage to the martyr.
Lt. Col. Kumar, a bomb disposal expert, was killed while defusing a grenade after terrorists attacked an Indian Air Force base in Pathankot, Punjab.
Lt. Col. Kumar, 34, is survived by his father, his wife Dr KG Radhika, a dentist, and a two-year-old daughter. The Army officer was promoted to Lt. Col. in the elite NSG a few months ago.
Meanwhile, combing operations continue at Pathankot Air Base, which has entered day four today. (ANI)