Give the enemy a befitting reply: Slain jawan's father

The distraught father of Lance Naik Sudhakar Singh, who was one of the soldiers killed in an attack by the Pakistan Army across the Line of Control, wants a 'befitting reply' for the dastardly act.

"The government should respond to the dastardly act by the enemy (Pakistan Army) in a befitting manner. That will be the real tribute to my martyred son," said Lance Naik Sudharkar Singh's father Sachchidanand Singh after the cremation of his son on Thursday.

"Hamari iccha hai ki dushman ka datkar muqabla karke usko usi ki bhasha mein jawab dena chahiye," (the enemy should be dealt with in a befitting manner)," said Singh, a resident of Dadia village in Sidhi district of Madhya Pradesh.

"Sudhakar was our strength. He was supposed to come to the village on February 15-16, but now everything is lost," Singh said.

The 30-year-old deceased soldier, the youngest of four siblings, had joined the Indian Army on April 7, 2002. He is survived by his wife and four-month-old son Bhaskar.

When asked whether he was satisfied with the Centre's response on the issue, Singh said the government had its own responsibilities but the situation "demands an equally befitting action."

Professor Kailash Tyagi, who teaches defence and strategic studies at MVM College in Bhopal, said, "It is not advisable to remain defensive beyond a point as it will lead to cowardliness."

"Defensive responses on serious issues like this result in demoralisation of forces," said Tyagi.

A retired lieutenant general based in Mhow, on condition of anonymity, said, "You cannot expect anything from the government. The army should deal with the situation."

Lance Naiks Sudhakar Singh and Hemraj were brutally killed in a raid by 29 Baloch Regiment troops of Pakistan who had intruded into India's territory in Poonch sector on January 8.