The last WhatsApp status message of Col M N Rai who was killed in an encounter in Jammu & Kashmir on Tuesday read: “Zindagi mein badi shiddat se nibhao apna kirdar, ki parda girne ke baad bhi taliyan bajti rahe.”
The message loosely translates to: “Play your role in life with such passion, that even after the curtains come down, the applause doesn’t stop.”
Col Rai was killed a day after he was awarded the “Yudh Seva Medal”. The medal is awarded to commanding officers and higher rank officers for their contribution towards operational achievement.
A day after his death, the message has gone viral on social media, thanks to Col Rai alias Munna’s friends, with tributes pouring in for the Army officer who will be cremated in Delhi on Thursday, hours before the Beating the Retreat ceremony.
Army Chief Gen Dalbir Singh will pay his last respects to the slain officer.
“He was a very brave officer. He was awarded Yudh Seva Medal on January 26. It is an example of leadership that the moment he got information about two terrorists in that area, he immediately went in with his quick reaction team and some other people,” the Army chief said.
Besides Rai, commanding officer of 42 Rashtriya Rifles, Sanjeev Kumar Singh, head constable from Special Operations Group (SOG) of Jammu & Kashmir Police, were killed in Tral in Pulawama district. Two Hizb-ul-Mujahideen militants were also gunned down in the encounter.
A message containing the WhatsApp status, posted by Col Rai’s friend Col Vikram Singh, received more than 15,000 responses after the Army shared it on its official Facebook page.
“He got the Yudh Seva Medal for eliminating a top Pakistani terrorist with utmost bravery, tenacity and calmness. These are not mere words, I was right next to him when he did so,” wrote Col Singh. “I was ribbing him mercilessly on January 25, when he got his award, joking that I deserved half of it. Ever gracious, he offered all of it. I had also joked that the next will be an Ashok Chakra. I’m sure it is a joke no more,” Col Singh added.
Rai is survived by wife, two daughters, a son and parents.
Deccan Herald is on WhatsApp Channels| Join now for Breaking News & Editor's Picks