Moga’s Jaimal drove ill-fated bus, father proud of sacrifice

Kulwinder Sandhu

Tribune News Service

Moga, February 15

After coming to know that her husband CRPF jawan Jaimal Singh had been killed in a terror attack in J&K, Sukhjit Kaur almost fainted on the bed in her room trying to come to terms with the irreparable loss. Her mother-in-law could be seen trying to console her with a heavy heart and tears in her eyes, her son having fallen victim to a suicide bomber.

Jaimal Singh, a resident of Ghalauti village in Dharamkot sub-division of the Moga district, was the driver of the bus that was blown up after the suicide bomber rammed his explosive-laden SUV into the bus on the Srinagar-Jammu highway in Awantipora area of J&K yesterday. As many as 42 CRPF jawans were killed and dozens injured in the incident.

Jaimal was born on April 26, 1974. He studied from the village school and joined the Central force on April 23, 1993. His father Jaswant Singh said Jaimal spoke to his wife and five-year-old son on Tuesday night informing them that his company was being shifted to another place.

Jaswant has urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi that India must give a befitting reply to the terrorists and the neighbouring country Pakistan, which is harbouring them. “It is high time for India to end terrorism forever so that no other parents or wives lose their sons or husbands in such tragic incidents,” he said, his voice choking with grief.

“Officials informed us about Jaimal’s martyrdom late on Thursday night. We were informed that the bus was blown up by terrorists. We are proud of his sacrifice,” said Jaswant Singh. The family members were yet to get any information on the arrival of the mortal remains.

Earlier, as the news reached the village, hundreds of people thronged Jaimal’s house to console the grieving family and express their solidarity with them. The villagers said Jaimal was a brave man and a great son who cared a lot for his family.