<p>The army held a wreath laying ceremony here Wednesday to honour Colonel M.N. Rai who was martyred in a gunfight with the guerrillas in south Kashmir's Pulwama district.</p>.<p><br />Lt. Gen. Subrata Saha, GOC of the army's 15 Corps, led the ceremony at the Badami Bagh cantonment headquarters here.<br /><br />Head Constable Sanjeevan Singh of the Jammu and Kashmir Police was also martyred in Tuesday's gunfight in which two local guerrillas of Hizbul Mujahideen outfit were killed.<br /><br />The army also honoured the martyred policeman at the ceremony.<br />"They made the supreme sacrifice yesterday (Tuesday) in a daring operation at Tral. <br /><br />The supreme sacrifice of these two brave men only strengthens our resolve to fight all elements inimical to the security of Jammu and Kashmir," the GOC said.<br /><br />He said Colonel Rai always led his troops from the front.<br />He disclosed Colonel Rai was approached by the father and brother of one of the slain guerrillas with an offer of surrender.<br /><br />"When Rai was hearing them out, the terrorists burst into the scene firing indiscriminately.<br />"The slain militants were identified as Abid Ahmad Khan and Shiraz Ahmad Dar of Hizbul Mujaheedin outfit.<br /><br />"Col Rai combined bravery with compassion," the GOC said.<br />Colonel Rai, 39, had been awarded the Yudh Seva Medal for gallantry on this year's Republic Day.<br /><br />He is the senior most army officer to have been killed in a gunfight in the valley during the last three years.<br />He is survived by his wife, two daughters and a five-year old son.<br /></p>
<p>The army held a wreath laying ceremony here Wednesday to honour Colonel M.N. Rai who was martyred in a gunfight with the guerrillas in south Kashmir's Pulwama district.</p>.<p><br />Lt. Gen. Subrata Saha, GOC of the army's 15 Corps, led the ceremony at the Badami Bagh cantonment headquarters here.<br /><br />Head Constable Sanjeevan Singh of the Jammu and Kashmir Police was also martyred in Tuesday's gunfight in which two local guerrillas of Hizbul Mujahideen outfit were killed.<br /><br />The army also honoured the martyred policeman at the ceremony.<br />"They made the supreme sacrifice yesterday (Tuesday) in a daring operation at Tral. <br /><br />The supreme sacrifice of these two brave men only strengthens our resolve to fight all elements inimical to the security of Jammu and Kashmir," the GOC said.<br /><br />He said Colonel Rai always led his troops from the front.<br />He disclosed Colonel Rai was approached by the father and brother of one of the slain guerrillas with an offer of surrender.<br /><br />"When Rai was hearing them out, the terrorists burst into the scene firing indiscriminately.<br />"The slain militants were identified as Abid Ahmad Khan and Shiraz Ahmad Dar of Hizbul Mujaheedin outfit.<br /><br />"Col Rai combined bravery with compassion," the GOC said.<br />Colonel Rai, 39, had been awarded the Yudh Seva Medal for gallantry on this year's Republic Day.<br /><br />He is the senior most army officer to have been killed in a gunfight in the valley during the last three years.<br />He is survived by his wife, two daughters and a five-year old son.<br /></p>