India salutes its martyrs, the brave heroes who laid down their lives fighting off terrorists in two separate encounters in Kashmir on Wednesday. Among them was Major J S Suri, who died just days before his 30th birthday.

Major J S Suri had planned to celebrate his birthday with his wife by the picturesque Manasbal Lake where his 13 Rashtriya Rifles unit is based.

That was not to be, as he was killed in the encounter, fighting dreaded Pakistani infiltrators.

In Hyderabad, his hometown, the news of the tragedy is yet to sink in.

The security forces in Kashmir are fighting a highly trained fresh wave of infiltrators. But the infiltrators have not been able to succeed because of brave young officers like Major Suri leading from the front, choosing martyrdom over defeat.