Martyrs Who Died Fighting Udhampur Terrorists Honoured

It was two young constables of the Border Security Force (BSF) who managed to nip in the bud Wednesday’s terror attack in Udhampur. With their lives, they bought the force 20 minutes of time enough for reinforcements to arrive.

Constables Subhendu Rai and Rocky were honoured by the BSF this morning.

The terrorists – Noman who died and Mohammad Naved who was caught alive – had targeted a BSF bus on way to Udhampur, which was carrying 30 personnel. They had immobilised the bus by shooting at its tyres and then targeted the BSF men inside.

Constable Subhendu Rai, who was driving the bus, was injured in the initial spray of bullets. But when one of the militants, carrying a grenade, attempted to enter the bus, he hung onto the bus door, said a press release from the BSF. He made sure that the door remained closed – even when the enraged militant opened fire at him from the outside, the release added.

Newly inducted 27-year-old constable Rocky, meanwhile, started firing back. His first target was the terrorist who was trying to board the bus, later identified as Noman. Noman died on the spot and the grenade he meant to lob into the bus, burst outside, the release said.

A senior officer of the force told news agency Press Trust of India Rocky kept the militants engaged, firing 40 rounds of bullets in 20 minutes – till reinforcements reached the spot. It also gave time to his colleagues the chance to take cover and retaliate.

“Rocky sustained bullet injuries but kept on firing till he succumbed… Had it not been for his raw courage, we would have suffered more casualties,” PTI quoted BSF Director General DK Pathak as saying.

The young trooper from Haryana’s Yamunanagar was known as the “rock force” of the unit, the officer was quoted as saying. “He lived the true meaning of his name, like a hero.”

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee later tweeted applauding the bravery of Rai, who hailed from the state.