Gen Rawat reviews J&K security situation

Meets Aurangzeb's family, vows avenging martyr's sacrifice

JAMMU: A day after the Central government decided not to extend the Ramadan ceasefire in the Kashmir Valley, Indian Army chief General Bipin Rawat on Monday flew to Jammu and Kashmir and reviewed the security situation, besides meeting the parents and other family members of rifleman Aurangzeb, who was abducted and killed by terrorists last week.

Chief of Army Staff General Bipin Rawat today visited forward areas in state and reviewed the security situation along the frontier as well as in the hinterland, an official statement read.

Rawat, accompanied by the newly-appointed Northern Army chief, Lt Gen Ranbir Singh, visited forward areas in the state and was briefed by Lt Gen Saranjeet Singh, GOC White Knight Corps, on the prevailing security situation, the statement said.

The Army chief, during his visit to forward areas, also interacted with soldiers and complemented them for their professionalism, selfless commitment and loyalty. He exhorted the troops to continue to work with zeal and dedication to overcome the challenges posted by weather, enemy and terrorism.

The Army Chief commended the synergy between all security agencies and civil administration in Jammu and Kashmir, the official said. Rawat also visited northern command, a defence spokesperson added.

The Army chief also visited deceased Rifleman Aurangzeb's native village, Salani, Poonch to meet the bereaved family and condoled the death of soldier who was abducted and later killed by militants in Gusoo village of Kashmir's Pulwama district.

Rawat along with senior Army officials went all the way to the remote Salani hamlet in the frontier Poonch district and conveyed to the family that forces stood with them in their hour of grief.

Aurangzeb, who belonged to the 44, Rashtriya Rifles, was on way home to celebrate Eid when terrorists abducted him.

Gen Rawat flew from New Delhi to Jammu, where he was received by Northern Command chief Lt Gen Ranbir Singh, officials told.

Accompanied by officials, Rawat flew to Poonch from Jammu technical airport and was received by commanders in the frontier district, they said.

Rawat met the family of the deceased soldier and spent over 30 minutes with the parents of Aurangzeb.

Speaking to the father of the brave-heart, the COAS assured all possible assistance to the family, the official added. He assured the family, that the supreme sacrifice rendered by the brave son of India will not go in vain.

Earlier, Aurangzeb's family had made an emotional appeal to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Army, besides the Jammu and Kashmir government, to eliminate militancy from the state and avenge the martyrdom of their kin.

"My son has laid down his life for the country. He was a brave soldier. I and my sons will also sacrifice (ourselves) for the nation. We want goons to be wiped out," Mohammad Hanief, Aurangzeb's father and a former Sepoy of the Jammu and Kashmir Light Infantry, had said.

"I give PM Modi 72 hours to avenge my son's death or else we are ready to take revenge on our own. Kashmir is ours. We must not let Kashmir burn. Instead, we must eliminate the goons who are destroying the Valley," Hanief had said.

In a video, widely seen on social media, an emotional Hanief can be seen asking why Pakistani flags were waved in Kashmir.

Rifleman Aurangzeb of 44, Rashtriya Rifles, was abducted and killed by terrorists in Pulwama district when he was on his way home to celebrate Eid on June 14. He was part of Major Rohit Shukla's team, which eliminated Hizbul Mujahideen terrorist Sameer Tiger.

Aurangzeb had boarded a private vehicle for Shopian, from where he was supposed to go to Rajouri district. The terrorists intercepted the vehicle as it approached Kalampora and abducted the jawan. His bullet-riddled body was found by at Gussu village, about 10 km from Kalampora, in Pulwama district.