For young Army officer Capt.
For young Army officer Capt. Pawan Kumar — who was martyred on Sunday while leading his team against the terrorists in Pampore in J&K — all that mattered was love for the country and not calls of “azadi” on the campus or reservation demand by his Jat community members in Haryana.
The officer reportedly hailed from the Jat community and was an alumni of the National Defence Academy, which means he was a JNU degree holder. While the Jats in Haryana are fighting for reservation, JNU has been in the eye of a political storm over some persons allegedly uttering slogans in favour of “freedom” during an event.
“Kisiko reservation chahiye to kisiko azadi bhai. Humein kuchh nahin chahiye bhai. Bas apni razai. (Some want reservation and some independence, I don’t want anything, brother, I want only my quilt),” the 23-year-old officer of the special forces said in his last Facebook post on Saturday. Meanwhile, the Army on Sunday appealed to the people of Haryana, which has been hit by the Jat quota stir, to extend support in giving a “befitting farewell” to Capt. Kumar.
“The Army appeals to the people of Haryana to extend their full support in giving a befitting farewell to this brave son of their soil,” defence spokesman of Northern Command said on Sunday. Capt. Pawan Kumar, an officer of the elite Para unit, hailed from Jind in Haryana.
The young para commando had been in the Army for only three years after graduating from the National Defence Academy. Under a tie-up NDA has with JNU, he had a degree from the prestigious university in Delhi.
The 10 Para Special Forces officer was leading his men from the front in a complicated operation in a 7-storey building in Pampore where at least three terrorists had holed up.
The army described him as an “inspiring leader”, who in spite of being injured in an earlier anti-terrorist operation, went on to volunteer for more operations.
His Facebook account gives one a glimpse into his life. He has posted pictures of him with motorbikes and jeeps. One of his profile pictures he posted last year was of his dog Tyson, a young Rottweiler.
The mortal remains of the brave soldier will be taken by air to Jind tomorrow as the road traffic is disrupted due to violent protests by Jats who are demanding quota in the OBC category.
The last rites with full military honours will be conducted by the army and state administration at his village tomorrow, the Spokesman said.
