JK Guv gets emotional on meeting Ashok Chakra awardee family

New Delhi, Feb 18 (UNI) Jammu and Kashmir Governor Lt Gen (Retd) S K Sinha was almost in tears when he held the 35-day-old baby of this year's Ashok Chakra awardee -- Major Dinesh Raghu Raman -- who laid down his life in a fierce gun-battle with militants in the strife-torn Valley in October last year.

Srishti, meaning Universe, was born about 35 days ago, almost three months after her 29-year-old father sacrificed his life in the gun-battle with militants in Baramulla district on October two last year.

Major Raman of 34 Rashtriya Rifles was posthumously awarded the Ashok Chakra, the peacetime equivalent of the Param Vir Chakra, the country's highest award for gallantry.

Gen Sinha along with his wife Premini Sinha met the bereaved family of the soldier here yesterday and consoled Major Raman's wife and his parents.

The retired General was almost in tears when he took the baby in his lap.

''Major Raman did all of us proud,'' the Governor later said, adding the deceased had rendered the greatest possible service to the motherland by sacrificing his life, and also left an indelible mark of his bravery on the youth of the country.

The Government and the Army would do whatever possible for the welfare of the family, Gen Sinha said.

On October two last year, newly wed Major Raman deployed his company at a village in Baramulla district where a gunfight with militants had erupted.

While zeroing in on some suspected houses, Major Raman heard shouts of a fellow officer (Major K P Vinay, awarded Kirti Chakra posthumously) who was critically wounded in the gun-battle.

He crawled towards the wounded officer despite heavy fire by the militants and shifted him and two other soldiers to safety.

Major Raman then took on the two militants who had caused heavy casualties to the forces and killed both of them.

The other militants fired at Major Raman from another house, causing serious injuries to him that later proved fatal.

''Major Raman displayed the most conspicuous bravery, besides camaraderie and leadership of the highest order and made the supreme sacrifice for the nation,'' the Army had said.

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