‘Happy New Year’: Sepoy Jagsir’s last call to mom

Anirudh Gupta

Ferozepur, December 31

A pall of gloom descended on Lohgarh Thakran Wala village in Zira subdivision as the news of the killing of Sepoy Jagsir Singh (32) trickled in this afternoon. Jagsir attained martyrdom during early hours on Sunday following unprovoked firing by Pakistani forces on Indian Army posts along the Line of Control in Nowshera sector of Jammu and Kashmir.

Sources said Jagsir was targeted by snipers of Pakistan’s Baloch Regiment.

Defence sources said though the Indian Army retaliated strongly, Sepoy Jagsir of 19 Punjab Regiment got grievously injured during the exchange of fire. He later succumbed to his injuries.

Jagsir had visited his native village last week and had promised to visit again in the New Year.

“Jagsir had called yesterday night to convey his New Year greetings. Little did we know it will turn out to be our last conversation with him,” recalled the martyr’s mother, Gurmit Kaur, her voice choked.

His wife Mohinder Pal Kaur was inconsolable as she remembered her seven-year relationship with her husband.

“We got married in 2010 and were blessed with three kids — Nigamjit Kaur (7), Gurmeet Kaur (5) and Jagdeep Singh (2). On his next visit home, he had promised to take the kids on an outing,” she said.

Army officials said Jagsir was a brave and sincere soldier. “The nation will always remain indebted to him for his supreme sacrifice and devotion to duty,” said an official.

The martyr’s body would be brought to his native village on Monday in a helicopter, say sources.

Jagsir had joined the Indian Army in 2004 and had been serving in the Kashmir valley for the last few years.

He did his schooling from the government school in the village and was the youngest of the three siblings.

Tehsildar Vipin Sharma along with other officials met the bereaved family and offered condolences.