Major J S Suri succumbs battling terrorists

BRAVEHEART: Major Suresh Suri laid down his life battling terrorists on Wednesday.
September 24, 2009
Srinagar On October 5, Major J S Suri would have turned 30. He had planned to celebrate his birthday with his wife, S Pallavi, by the picturesque Manasbal lake where his 13 Rashtriya Rifles unit is deployed. Pallavi arrived at the 13 RR regimental centre in Manasbal a few days ago. On Wednesday, Major Suri was killed in a major encounter with militants in Bandipore in North Kashmir. Pallavi is in shock. They were married only last year.

“She seemed to have guessed last night that something was wrong... confusing reports about Maj Suri were coming in from the encounter site,” said an Army officer who was part of the 45-hour operation to flush out the militants holed up on an island on Wular lake.

“She is in a state of shock. Officers and jawans of the unit are trying to console her. It was very difficult for senior officers to break the news to her that Maj Suri had sacrificed his life for the nation.”

Pallavi will return with her husband’s body to his home city Hyderabad.

Four Armymen — Maj Suri and three jawans — were killed after security forces engaged two groups of militants in separate encounters over two days in Bandipore and Rafiabad.

Maj Suri joined the 6 Kumaon regiment in 2001, and was on deputation with 13 RR in Bandipore and Ajas. He had served earlier in the Valley in 2004.

He was married last year and his wife had come down for a short duration to visit him. That is when this encounter took place," said Colonel JS Brar, Army Spokesman, 15 Corps. A resident of Hyderabad, Major Suresh Suri was commissioned in the Kumaon Regiment eight years ago and had been posted to Jammu and Kashmir just one year back.

The braveheart would have turned 30 next month had not the terrorist bullet cut short his promising career. For many this braveheart died young but for his colleagues in Army he will live forever.
Major killed in J and K encounter
Last rites of Army Major killed in J-K performed

On behalf of all Readers and Members of RMS forum, we salute Major Suresh Suri. May his soul rest in peace and inspire the rest of the Nation. We profoundly offer our heartfelt condolences to Pallavi and all family members.

Antony urges troops to continue vigil

The Hindu: Shujaat Bukhari
Defence Minister tours border district of Rajouri in Jammu, praises their role
Photo: PTI
TAKING STOCK: Defence Minister A.K. Antony being briefed by Army Chief General Deepak Kapoor about the fencing at the forward area in Rajouri district of Jammu on Monday.
SRINAGAR: Defence Minister A.K. Antony on Tuesday impressed upon the troops to continue their vigil along the borders by maintaining a high degree of operational preparedness to meet any eventuality in future.

During his one-day tour of the border district of Rajouri in Jammu division, Mr. Antony lauded the role of the Army in curbing infiltration and reducing the levels of insurgency. “Army’s vigilance and proactive stance had ensured incident-free elections in the State which has been appreciated by one and all,” he told the troops expressing full satisfaction with the armed forces. He also appreciated their exceptional role in restoring normality in the region.

‘Operation Sadbhavana’
The Minister cited the projects under ‘Operation Sadbhavana’ by which the socio-economic conditions of the local populace had been uplifted in the insurgency-affected remote areas of the region.

Accompanied by Chief of Army Staff General Deepak Kapoor, Defence Secretary Vijay Singh, and General Officer Commanding, Northern Command, Lt. Gen. P.C. Bhardwaj, he was briefed about the situation in the forward areas.

Latest incursions
He was told about the latest incursions along the Line of Control (LoC) and the strategy to foil the attempts of militants and their mentors to sneak into this side. Mr. Antony complimented the forces on effectively dealing with the incursions in the Gurez and Kupwara sectors where 40 infiltrators were killed and the combing operation was on, the defence sources said.

The Minister later attended a ‘Sainik Bhoj’ where he personally interacted with all ranks of troops. He assured them that the government was committed to their welfare.

Ahead of the Minister’s visit, the Army achieved a major success by killing a top militant in the same area. Defence sources told The Hindu that Lashkar-e-Taiba’s Naib (deputy) divisional commander Abu Baber, a resident of Peshawar, was killed in a gunfight late Monday night.

Sources said that on the basis specific information, 37 Rashtriya Rifles along with the Special Operation Group of the local police cordoned off the Dharimal area in Saroti village 12 km from Mendher in Poonch district. One AK bullet action rifle, radio set and two magazines have been recovered from the slain militant commander.
Antony urges troops to continue vigil