After the army chief, Union Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Wednesday visited the family of Rifleman Aurangzeb who was abducted and killed by suspected militants on June 15, army spokesman Col NN Joshi said.
The Defence Minister arrived in Jammu earlier in the morning and went straight to the remote Salani hamlet in Mendhar area of frontier Poonch district, where she spent around one hour with parents and other family members of the Rifleman who was killed in Pulwama district of southern Kashmir.
“I have come to spend some time with the family of the martyr and the message I am carrying back is that the martyred soldier stands out as an inspiration for the entire country,” the Minister told reporters.
Joshi said the defence minister also handed over a welfare cheque of Rs five lakhs to bereaved family.
Sitharaman also visited forward areas along Line of Control under operational command of the army’s Nagrota based 16 crops.
She met local field commanders to review security after her party, the BJP pulled out of its alliance with PDP in the state and resumption of anti-militant military operations after end of Ramadhan.
“She (Sitharaman) also took first hand security review and preparedness to ensure incident free and peaceful Amaranth Yatra, which is scheduled to begin form June 28,” sources said.
The defence minister was briefed by General Officer Commanding, Ace of Spades Division on the prevailing security situation and steps being undertaken to maintain close vigil on the LoC and to maintain peace in the hinterland.
“The Raksha Mantri, during her visit to forward areas, also interacted with the soldiers and complimented them for their exemplary devotion towards maintaining sanctity of the Line of Control and giving befitting response to inimical forces,” Joshi said.
Aurangzeb, who belonged to the 44, Rashtriya Rifles, was on way home to celebrate Eid when suspected militants abducted him.
His bullet ridden body was found later. Aurangzeb’s family had made an emotional appeal to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Army to avenge his killing. The slain soldier’s brother is also a soldier in the army where their father too served.