BSF jawan martyred in Pak shelling a month before wedding

The family members of Chandan Kumar Rai, a Border Security Force (BSF) jawan, were preparing for his marriage when they received the news about his martyrdom at the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu & Kashmir by Pak shelling on Saturday.

Rai, a resident of Uttar Pradesh's Chandauli district, about 300 km  from here, was to tie the nuptial knot on February 28, according to his family members.

''He had applied for leave and was expected to arrive home sometime next month,'' a family member said in Chandauli on Sunday.

A pall of gloom descended on the village when the news of his martyrdom came. People in large numbers, not only from the village but also from the nearby areas flocked Rai's home to express their condolences.

Rai was injured in Pak shelling in Rajauri sector in Jammu & Kashmir and was rushed to hospital. He later succumbed to his injuries.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath announced a financial assistance of Rs 20 lakh to the next of the kin of the martyr, said official sources here on Sunday.

Senior officials of the state government and public representatives also visited Rai's house to condole his martyrdom. Rai's body was likely to arrive at his village on Monday, sources said.

The mortal remains of another BSF jawan Jagpal Singh, a resident of UP's Bulandshahar district, were consigned to flames with full state honors on Sunday.

Singh was martyred in Pak shelling in the Samba sector of Jammu and Kashmir a couple of days back.