The Chief of Army Staff, General Bipin Rawat, on Monday covered at least one km long steep passage to meet family members of martyr Rifleman Aurangzeb in village Salani of Mendhar tehsil in Poonch.

Army Chief briefly met his father Mohd Haneef, an ex-serviceman, and condoled his son’s death. He was accompanied by Chief of Northern command Lt-Gen Ranbir Singh and Lt-Gen Saranjeet Singh, GOC White Knight Corps.

Rifleman Aurangzeb was abducted and later killed in cold blood by unidentified terrorists on Thursday while he was coming home to celebrate Eid with his family.

During his brief stay in the village Army Chief is learnt to have interacted with his father and assured all possible assistance to the family.

He also conveyed to the family that the supreme sacrifice rendered by the brave son of India will not go in vain. Local villagers were upbeat after the visit of the Army Chief. They claimed supreme sacrifice of Rifleman Aurangzeb had brought recognition and great respect to their village.

Earlier, General Bipin Rawat visited forward areas in J&K and was briefed by Lt Gen Saranjeet Singh, GOC White Knight Corps, on the prevailing security situation.

Ministry of Defence Spokesman in a Press statement said, “the Army Chief, during his visit to forward areas, also interacted with the soldiers and complemented them for their professionalism, selfless commitment and loyalty”. He exhorted the troops to continue to work with zeal and dedication to overcome the challenges posted by weather, enemy and terrorism. The Army Chief commended the synergy between all security agencies and civil administration in Jammu and Kashmir.

Courtesy: The Pioneer, Tuesday, 19 June 2018 | PNS | Jammu