Lieutenant Colonel Niranjan Kumar was a member of the bomb disposal squad of the National Security Guards
Lieutenant Colonel Niranjan Kumar's body will today be taken from Bengalaru to his home town Palakkad in Kerala, where last rites are expected to be performed tomorrow morning for the NSG commando who was martyred in Pathankot on Sunday.
Lt. Col. Kumar, a bomb disposal expert, was killed while defusing a grenade after terrorists attacked an Indian Air Force base in Pathankot, Punjab. Four jawans were also injured in the grenade blast; one of them is in serious condition.
Lt. Col. Kumar, 34, is survived by his father, his wife Dr KG Radhika, a dentist, and a two-year-old daughter. The Army officer was promoted to Lt. Col. in the elite NSG a few months ago.
The officer's father EK Sivaranjan brought his son's body, wrapped in the Indian Tricolour, to Bengaluru, where the family has lived for many years. "From the beginning, he was very interested in joining the Army," Mr Sivaranjan said.
Fellow Army officers in uniform, school children and politicians were among those who paid tribute to the martyr at his home in Doddabommasandra. Neighbours said Lt. Col. Niranjan Kumar was very popular in the area.
The NSG commando was among seven security personnel killed in the
terrorist attack at the Pathankot air base, where
heavy firing is still on. Those killed included
Commonwealth Shooting Gold Medallist Fateh Singh and
Garud Commando Gursevak Singh.
Commando Gursevak Singh was cremated today with full military honours at his village near Ambala in Punjab. The commando was shot early as the Pathankot gun battle began, but he continued to fight till he died.
The commando had joined the Garuds six years ago after graduation. He got married only 45 days ago.
All six terrorists have been killed in the Pathankot gun-battle which began at 3.30 am on Saturday.