[Reader-list] "Kashmir paratrooper laid down life for the Nation"

[Aditya Raj Kaul]

My son laid down his life for the nation, says father of Kashmiri
paratrooper***Mir Ehsan <http://www.indianexpress.com/columnist/mirehsan/>**
Indian Express

Link -
http://www.indianexpress.com/news/My-son-laid-down-his-life-for-the-nation--says-father-of-Kashmiri-paratrooper/584264
*

As the last post was sounded, Naik Altaf Ahmad took slow steps towards the
coffin of his brother, paratrooper Imtiyaz Ahmad, and placed a wreath.
Behind him was younger brother Naik Sajjad Ahmad who too saluted the
Tricolour-draped coffin. Looking on were hundreds of villagers, both men and
women, who had gathered at the local graveyard to bid a final farewell to
the village boy who had joined the elite 1 Para three years ago.

Paratrooper Imtiyaz Ahmad Thokar, 22, killed in a gunbattle with militants
in Sopore, was the third son of farmer Nazir Ahmad to join the Army.

After a brief stint with the CRPF in 2006, Imtiyaz joined the Jammu and
Kashmir Light Infantry (JAKLI). Impressed by his dedication during training,
his JAKLI unit sent him for special training. For the past one year, his
unit was deployed at Chowkibal Kupwara but it was only on Id last September
that he came to meet them, said family members.

“On Tuesday afternoon, Imtiyaz’s friend called me from Sopore and said he
had been injured. A few hours later, the Army called and broke the news of
his death,” said brother Shakeel Ahmad who left his police job a few years
ago. “Since I was unemployed, he used to take care of my family. He even
used to recharge my prepaid mobile. When I called him on Sunday, he promised
me a postpaid connection.”

Father Nazir Ahmad said his son had done the family proud. “Today, I am a
proud father. My son laid down his life for the nation. He was a brave boy
and fought like a valiant soldier.”

The two brothers in the Army — one of them is posted in Siachen and another
with the Congo peacekeeping force — said their only regret was that they
couldn’t meet Imtiyaz while in Kashmir. “I came here two days ago from
Siachen on leave for ten days. On Monday, I called Imtiyaz and said I had
reached. He said he would try to come home next week. But he didn’t keep his
promise,” said Sajjad.
Altaf boarded a special flight arranged by the Army to attend the funeral.
“My brother died like a brave soldier. He had joined the Army after seeing
us in uniform. When he was selected for the Army, he promised to hold his
head high. He kept his word.