Major Dahiya was part of surgical strike teams

Ravinder Saini

Tribune News Service

Mahendragarh, February 15

The two-year deputation of Major Satish Dahiya (32), who sacrificed his life while fighting terrorists during a special operation in Kupwara district of Jammu and Kashmir yesterday, was about to end this month and his family members were expecting his next posting in Jaipur (Rajasthan).

They also got his two-and-a-half-year-old daughter – Priyansa – enrolled in a play school in Jaipur recently, but the destiny had another plan for Major Dahiya. The braveheart had returned to his posting station on January 2 after spending 20 days in the village.

“Since Jaipur was believed to be his new posting station, a rented accommodation was already taken for him. Even, his wife had started residing there after getting their daughter enrolled in a school,” said Sunil Kumar, cousin of Major Dahiya.

Major Dahiya was the only child of Anchal Singh who runs a brick-kiln in partnership with his two brothers in the village. Major Dahiya had joined the Army Supply Corps (ASC) in 2009 and the Rashtriya Rifles in 2015 on deputation for two years.

“Major Dahiya had led several operations successfully during his career. He was also the part of the teams which conducted surgical strikes in Pakistan last year,” said Major Naveen Phoghat who was here to console the bereaved family.

Earlier, a pall of gloom descended on the village as soon as the tragic news of his death reached here last evening.

“A large number of villagers spent sleepless night at Major Dahiya’s house yesterday as they had lost their brave son,” said Ishwar Singh, a villager.

Shocked father Anchal Singh and mother Anita Devi were unable to speak and they responded to relatives and co-villagers merely by shaking their heads.

Major Dahiya’s wife Sujata Choudhary said she was proud of her husband who made the supreme sacrifice for the motherland. “I will send my daughter to the Army to serve the nation,” she added.

Bhup Singh, uncle of Major Dahiya, said that he talked to him over phone when he was about to launch the operation yesterday. “Major Dahiya told me that he himself will call back after the operation,” he added.

Sarpanch Nihal Singh said that Major Dahiya had not only made the village proud by attaining martyrdom, but also set an example of patriotism for the youth of the village.

“More than 50 youths from the village are serving in the Army and the paramilitary forces, but Satish is the first who sacrificed his life for the country,” he added.