PM pays homage to soldiers, says their valour will be remembered

Modi laid wreaths on the bodies of the soldiers at the Palam Airport here where the mortal remains were brought today from Srinagar.

New Delhi, Feb 15: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday paid homage to four army men, including a Major, who died fighting militants in two encounters in Kashmir and said the country will always remember their valour and sacrifice.

He laid wreaths on the bodies of the soldiers at the Palam Airport here where the mortal remains were brought today from Srinagar. On the occasion, Army Chief Gen Bipin Rawat briefed the Prime Minister on the encounters in which the casualties took place.

"Paid tributes to the brave men who lost their lives fighting terrorists in J&K. India will always remember their valour & sacrifice," Modi tweeted later. The Prime Minister was returning from Kannauj in Uttar Pradesh after addressing an election rally there when he paid his last respects to the bravehearts.

Major S Dahiya and three other soldiers were killed yesterday in two encounters in Kashmir. Dahiya was killed in an encounter in Kralgund area of north Kashmir's Kupwara district where security forces gunned down three militants hiding in a residential house.

Three other army men were killed in an encounter in Hajin area of Bandipora district after security forces cordoned off the area following information about presence of militants there.

PTI