Two from Himachal martyred in Pathankot attack

Lalit Mohan

Tribune News Service

Dharamsala, January 3

A pall of gloom descended on Siyunh village, about 30 km from here, as the news about the martyrdom of Sanjeevan Singh Rana in the Pathankot air base attack reached his home today. The family members of Rana (51), a Havaldar in the Defence Security Corps (DSC), were inconsolable.

Apart from Rana, sources said, another solider, Jagdish Chand from Chamba district, had attained martyrdom fighting terrorists in Pathankot.

Villagers gathered at the house Sanjeevan Rana to share the grief of the family. As Rana’s wife Pinki Devi was not in a position to talk, a relative present at the house said Sanjeevan, the sole breadwinner of the family, was critically injured in an encounter with terrorists who had sneaked in to the air base. 

He suffered five bullet injuries in the chest and succumbed to his injuries later.

The body of Sanjeevan Rana would be brought to his native village tomorrow. Rana is survived by his wife Pinki Devi, two daughters and a son.

Serving in the Army had been a tradition with Rana’s family as his father Rattan Rana was also an Army man.

Sanjeevan Rana had retired from Dogra Regiment in 2009 and joined the DSC. He was transferred to the Pathankot air base from Jammu two years ago.

Kangra Deputy Superintendent of Police Hitesh Lakhanpal and Sub-

Divisional Magistrate Shravan Manta also visited the martyr’s family.

Shahpur Congress leader and vice-president of Himachal Pradesh Forest Corporation Kewal Singh Pathania expressed grief over the death of two soldiers from the state and assured all possible help to the families from the state government. 

The body of another martyred soldier, Jagdish Chand, who hailed from Chamba district, will be brought to his native village tomorrow.

Sources said Kishori Lal, an Indian Air Force (IAF) jawan, was injured in the attack. Kishori Lal belongs to the Jaisinghpur area of Kangra district.