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In the 2G din, how many mourned this martyred soldier?

Last updated on: September 30, 2011 09:57 IST
An officer pays his respects to Lieutenant Khajuria

Around 1:30 pm on September 26, the 18 Grenadiers regiment of the Indian Army and the Jammu and Kashmir police launched an operation inside the Miliyal forests in Kupwara's Trehgam area.

Twenty-six-year-old Lieutenant Sushil Khajuria was part of the team that was scrambled to take on terrorists who were trying to infiltrate from across the border.

 

The mountainous, densely-forested terrain provided the perfect cover and vantage points for the heavily-armed terrorists.

 

Gunfire boomed as soon as the army made contact with the terrorists. Four days on, a tale of heroism emerged from ground zero, where the encounter continues.

 

On September 28 morning, Lieutenant Khajuria, who joined the army only last year, was killed while trying to evacuate injured colleagues from the line of fire.

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In the 2G din, how many mourned this martyred soldier?

Last updated on: September 30, 2011 09:57 IST
A relative weeps on the coffin of the young officer

Lt Colonel J S Brar (PRO, Srinagar) told rediff.com, "Lt Khajuria killed two terrorists in the encounter. He was trying to take his injured colleagues to safety when he was hit."
 
Commissioned on March 20, 2010 to the Army Service Corps, the young officer was attached to the 18 Grenadiers regiment.

Born on August 28, 1985, at Sangwali village in the Samba district of Jammu and Kashmir, two of Lieutenant Khajuria's brothers are also in the army. 

The loss of their son would not have come at a more unfortunate moment for the young officer's parents.

The family was in the midst of the preparations for Khajuria's wedding when the news of his demise came in.

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In the 2G din, how many mourned this martyred soldier?

Last updated on: September 30, 2011 09:57 IST
Indian Army officers salute during a wreath laying ceremony for the late Lieutenant Sushil Khajuria, in a military garrison in Srinagar

Lieutenant Khajuria's body was handed over to his parents on September 29. His last rights were performed with full State honours.

Meanwhile, the gunfire has not stopped in the Miliyal forests. Lieutenant Khajuria's colleagues are still engaging the enemy.

The toll so far: 5 terrorists, 2 policemen and 1 army officer