On Tuesday, gunmen disguised as police personnel entered the Indian army camp in Nagrota, threw grenades and fired indiscriminately. Four army men died in the initial engagement. Para commandos were deployed when the terrorists took 16 people hostage, including two women and two children. "The later casualties happened trying to ensure that hostages were rescued unharmed," said an official, according to reports. Eventually, it was found that among the dead were two army Majors.
Here is what you should know about the two officers who lost their lives in the attack:
Major Akshay Girish Kumar was the son of IAF pilot, Girish Kumar. According to the Indian Express, an alumnus of Jawaharlal Nehru University, Major Kumar, 31, had always been vocal about issues regarding the armed forces, be it OROP or the murder of the family members of Major Sushil Chhikara.
Major Kumar had married his friend Sangeeta Ravindran four years ago and they have a daughter who is three years old. The Major's wife and daughter were in Nagrota during the attack. A resident of Bengaluru's Koramangala area, Major Kumar and his family had lived in Kolkata and Pune before he was posted to Jammu and Kashmir.
A report in the Times Of India said that Major Kumar's mother, Meghana Girish, wanted his daughter Naina to be inspired by the eight-year-old Kashmiri kickboxer, Tajamul Islam.
Mourning his loss, Major Kumar's friends expressed their grief on social media. According to Times Of India, one of his close friends, Amulya Kashyap said, "On the first day, when most people his age were figuring out what to do, he was so certain about where he wanted to be. I remember him firmly saying that he was going to be in the army." She added that he never lost touch with his friends.
According to theIndian Express, another friend, Amit Sonu, described Major Akshay Kumar as a true gentleman who was always smiling.
He is survived by his wife, daughter and his parents.
Major Gosavi Kunal Mannadir also lost his life in the Nagrota attack. According to the Indian Express, Major Mannadir, 32, had just returned to Jammu with his wife Uma and their three-year old daughter, Umang, after a month's leave. He had reported back on Monday, a day before the attack.
A graduate of the Brihan Maharashtra College of Commerce in Pune, Major Mannadir joined the Army in 2006.
According to the Indian Express, Major Mannadir's father said, "There is immense pain because I have lost a son. But I am proud that my son breathed his last while fighting for the country. I want to tell the government to fight a decisive war against the enemy before more precious lives are lost."
Major Gosavi Kunal Mannadir is survived by his wife, daughter, parents and two brothers.