'Everything Was Fine When Talked To Him Last Time': Kin Of Soldiers Who Died In Poonch Terror Attack

The families of the martyrs, who lost their lives in Jammu and Kashmir's Poonch on Thursday in a terror attack, mourn the losses.

Poonch Terror Attack: The Indian Army lost its five brave soldiers in a cowardly terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Poonch on Thursday. A vehicle carrying the jawans caught fire after terrorists opened fire at it resulting in the death of five Indian soldiers. The incident has shocked the nation and the citizens are mourning the loss. The families of the martyrs have been informed of the development and the members are finding it difficult to cope with the news. 

Mandeep Singh

39-year-old Mandeep Singh, a resident of village Chankoiyan Kalan, town Doraha of Ludhiana district, is one of the five soldiers who sacrificed their lives for the country. Singh is survived by his mother, wife, son and daughter. His son is 9 years old, and his daughter is 11 years old. 

Mandeep's mother Balwinder Kaur, hardly able to speak, said that she spoke to her son over the phone on Thursday afternoon and everything was fine. She said that the family received the information about his martyrdom late in the evening. She said that the dead body of her son will reach the village on Friday evening and the last rites will be performed on Saturday at 11 am. 

Singh’s wife Jagdeep Kaur said she could not believe that her husband is no more. She had also spoken to him on Thursday afternoon. 

His uncle Jasveer Singh, who is retired from Indian Army, said that the sacrifice of his nephew must not go in vain. He demanded from the government that such attacks should be stopped, and the issue should be resolved by dialogue on a table. He added that such attacks have been happening in Jammu and Kashmir for a long time. Singh said he was proud of the sacrifice of his nephew. 

"I came to know about the incident at around 7 pm and that Mandeep Singh lost his life. My nephew died due to bullet injury," Jasveer Singh. 

Another member of the family said, "We received a call from the company commander at around 6:30 pm about Mandeep Singh." 

Kulwant Singh 

One of the martyred soldiers, Kulwant Singh, was a resident of Chadik village in Moga. Shaheed Kulwant Singh's father was a Kargil war martyr. Kulwant has left behind a daughter and a three-month-old son.  

A villager Naib Singh said that they were sad that he left the family forever. The villagers said that Singh had joined the army 14 years back. The sarpanch of the village requested the government to help the family as Kushwant was the only son and his father had also died a martyr in the Kargil war.

“Yesterday, when the news came, we came to know that he has become a martyr. The whole family is in sorrow and in shock. The soldier of our village has been martyred for the sake of the country. Our entire village is standing with the family. He was making his house; its not even complete. He had been married for two years. He had taken leave just a month back.” 

"He told me that he is fine and asked me not to worry", says the mother of braveheart Lance Naik Kulwant Singh. 

Sewak Singh 

Jawan Gursewak Singh, a resident of Bagha village of Talwandi Sabo, district Bathinda, is also among the five soldiers who died on Thursday. He was the only son of his parents and the only brother of two sisters. Gursewak Singh had returned after taking leave just 20 days ago. He joined the army in 2018.  

Harkrishan Singh 

Harkrishan Singh’s family is mourning the loss of their son. His wife Daljeet Kaur said that she spoke with him twice and later did not receive any call from him in the day despite calling him several times. 

"Yesterday, we spoke twice over call. Then we didn't receive any calls from him. I called him several times, but he didn't receive any of them. Later we got the news...," she said.