NSG commando Lt Col Niranjan Martyred In Pathankot Terror Attack (File Photo)
A fresh grenade blast ripped through the air force base here this morning claiming the life of an NSG commando, as three other security men succumbed to injuries in a hospital after yesterday’s terror attack taking the toll of Indian security personnel to seven.
Lt Col Niranjan, a member of the NSG’s Bomb Disposal Squad, was killed while he was defusing the grenade at the scene of the terror attack as part of the combing operations that continued through the night. Four other security men were also injured in the blast.
“Pained to know about demise of Lt. Col. Niranjan of NSG during mopping out ops at Pathankot, nation salutes his sacrifice,” Home Minister Rajnath Singh reportedly said.
Pained to know about the demise of Lt. Col. Niranjan of NSG during mopping out operations at Pathankot. The nation salutes his sacrifice
— Rajnath Singh (@BJPRajnathSingh) January 3, 2016
Defence sources said Niranjan, a resident of Kerala, was killed while trying to retrieve the grenade from the body of a dead terrorist.
The 35-year-old NSG commando was survived by wife Radhika and 2-year-old daughter Vismaya. He was deputed to NSG (Delhi) 3 years ago.
“I last spoke to him in October when he called to inform me about his promotion. He was very happy. He sent me pictures of his daughter through WhatsApp,” his uncle Harikrishnan said.
Niranjan’s body will be brought to Bangalore, where his family currently resides, and it will be kept for public to pay their respects. Later it will be brought to his native village of Elumbulassery in Kerala where the cremation will take place.
Locals recalled that the officer was a popular personality of the area and had a jovial nature.
Chief Minister Oommen Chandy will also be in Palakkad to pay his last respects to the departed officer.
Deeply saddened about the loss of Lt Colonel #NiranjanKumar. Sharing the grief of family.
— Oommen Chandy (@Oommen_Chandy) January 3, 2016
Last night, three members of the Defence Security Corps (DSC) succumbed to injuries in the hospital here.
Four attackers, a Garud commando and three DSC were killed yesterday when heavily-armed Pakistani terrorists had attempted to storm the base, triggering a day-long gunbattle at the airbase, barely 35 kms from the Indo-Pak border.
Among those battling for their lives in the hospital are 8 DSC personnel and a Garud commando.
Meanwhile, the joint combing operation was still underway, a police official said, adding that the NIA had taken over the probe into the terror incident. Some senior officials of the Punjab Police led by DGP Suresh Arora are also present here.