A national-level shooter, Fateh Singh, was among other security personnel who laid their lives while fighting against heavily armed terrorists in a gun-battle at Punjab’s Pathankot air base.
Fateh had made the country proud by clinching gold and silver in the 300m big bore team and individual events during the first Commonwealth Shooting Championship held in New Delhi in 1995.
Major Fateh Singh who was died yesterday while fighting with terrorists. indianexpress
He was an international shooter who had won several medals in the 1990s.
Hony Capt Fateh Singh of Gurdaspur’s Jhanda Gujjaran village fought against the terrorists who had sneaked into the air base.
Former chief coach of Army Marksmanship Unit (AMU) Col MS Chauhan said that Fateh, apart from being a talented shooter, was also a dedicated, brave and daring solider of the Dogra Regiment.
An army vehicle near the Indian Air Force base that was attacked by militants in Pathankot. indianexpress
Chauhan had met Fateh for the first time in Mhow in the mid-90s. Since then, they used to share a close bonding with each other.
He was posted in Pathankot two years ago. He retired as a subedar major from the Dogra regiment in 2009 and joined the Defence Service Corps and was initially posted at the Army War College in Mhow.
In the Commonwealth Shooting Championship at the Arrmy shootings ranges in New Delhi in 1995, Singh had won gold in the Big Bore Rifle Three Position event and silver medal in the Big Rifle Prone Position.
Fateh practised at the Army shooting ranges in Mhow. He also got training in Delhi.
The then Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda had also honoured this solider who had died while fighting against terrorists.
Raninder Singh, president of National Rifle Association of India, offered his condolences to his family and said that he was a great athlete who worked as an active member of the Indian shooting team.
“It is a very sad for us. He sacrificed his life for the country,” he said.
He is survived by his wife Madhu Bala and sons Gurdeep Singh Deepu and Nitin Thakur. Deepu is currently serving the 15 Dogra regiment.
Apart from Fateh, another Defence Security Corps (DSC) personnel and an Indian Air Force (IAF) official were killed in the Pathankot attack.
The IAF man’s identity is yet to be confirmed, the other slain DSC personnel has been identified as Havildar Kulwant Singh of Chak Sharif village in Gurdaspur district.
Soldiers during the Pathankot operation. hindustantimes
In 2004, Kulwant retired from the army and joined the DSC in 2006. He was transferred from Odisha to Pathankot air station two months ago.
He is survived by his mother Swarn Kaur, wife Harbhajan Kaur and two sons — Surinder Singh and Gursharan Singh.
Villagers of these soldiers rushed to their houses to offer sympathies and condolences to the bereaved families.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted:
In Pathankot today, our security forces once again demonstrated their valour. I salute their sacrifice. https://t.co/jqcIYiflzE
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) January 2, 2016
President Pranab Mukherjee condemned the attack and tweeted:
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Strongly condemn the terrorist attack on Air Force Base in Pathankot in Punjab #PresidentMukherjee
— President of India (@RashtrapatiBhvn) January 2, 2016
Heartfelt condolences to the grieving families of our brave soldiers who lost their lives in the attack #PresidentMukherjee
— President of India (@RashtrapatiBhvn) January 2, 2016
Compliments to our jawans for their valour and courage while fighting terrorists #PresidentMukherjee
— President of India (@RashtrapatiBhvn) January 2, 2016
Defense Minister Manohar Parrikar also tweeted:
I compliment the security forces for swift and effective response. 1/2
— Manohar Parrikar (@manoharparrikar) January 2, 2016
I salute the brave martyrs for making the ultimate sacrifice while protecting our Motherland. 2/2
— Manohar Parrikar (@manoharparrikar) January 2, 2016
Former Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir Omar Abdullah said that attack on Pathankot IAF base was the first major challenge for Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Pakistan plan. He tweeted:
Sorry to hear about the deaths of our brave security force personnel in the #PathankotAttack. Prayers for the deceased & their families. RIP
— Omar Abdullah (@abdullah_omar) January 2, 2016
The BJP now has to sidestep its previous “terror & talks can’t go together” & insulate the Indo-Pak dialogue from such attacks. #Pathankot
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— Omar Abdullah (@abdullah_omar) January 2, 2016
