Slain Gorkha jawan Siddhant Chettri death in Rajouri had married only two months ago

Darjeeling: The death of Army jawan Siddhant Chettri in the anti-terrorist operation at Rajouri in Jammu and Kashmir brought down the curtains abruptly on his two-month-long marriage.

The slain jawan hailed from Bijanbari area in Darjeeling district of West Bengal.

His elder brother Om Prakash Chettri, who recently retired from the Army, Saturday said Siddhant was passionate only about serving the nation.

“My brother was very passionate about serving the country. Hence, he joined the Army in 2020. Due to his good performance, he was assigned to Para (Special Forces). He got married only two months ago and returned to his duty in Jammu and Kashmir. He was martyred within 15 days of his return," Om Prakash Chettri told PTI over phone while he was on his way to Bagdogra airport to receive the body of his younger brother.

Siddhant was among the five Army jawans killed in an explosion triggered by terrorists in the thickly forested Kandi area in Rajouri district of Jammu and Kashmir during an operation to flush them out on Friday. A major was injured in the incident.

The Para(SF), to which he belonged, is a group of special forces battalions of the Parachute Regiment in the Indian Army. These units specialise in various roles like counter-terrorism, hostage rescue, counter-insurgency and special reconnaisance.

“He was so young - only 24. His wife is only 22 and also hails from Darjeeling. Since hearing the news of Siddhant's death, she is repeatedly losing her consciousness. Our parents are mum and not saying a word,” he said.

Chettri said Siddhant's body will be kept at their home on Saturday night for the family to mourn and the last rites will be performed on Sunday.

The operation, which took the young jawan's life, was launched following inputs about the presence of a group of terrorists which was involved in an ambush on an Army truck at Bhata Dhurian in Poonch district in April in which five security personnel were killed.

Before Friday’s attack the twin border districts of Poonch and Rajouri in Jammu and Kashmir witnessed seven major terrorist incidents since October 2021 in which 29 people, including 22 Army personnel, have been killed.