BSF pays tribute to Gurnam Singh, says he was 'instrumental' in foiling infiltration

Paying tributes to their slain comrade Gurnam Singh in a wreath laying ceremony here with full honours, the Border Security Force (BSF) on Sunday hailed his supreme sacrifice and also said that fallen jawan had been instrumental in foiling infiltration on the border.

Speaking to the media here after the ceremony, Additional Director General (ADG) BSF, Arun Kumar informed that Gurnam was one of those personnel responsible for foiling the infiltration as Pakistan was trying to send men across the border under the cover of fire on October 19th and 20th.

"Next morning he was on the same mount from where the infiltrators were sent back and he was shot at. It was becoming difficult for us to evacuate him from there due to the fire support of Pakistan and then we brought him to the Jammu medical college where he survived for two days," Kumar added.

Asserting that the doctors were trying everything to give him the best possible treatment, the officer further said that plans were being made to transport Gurnam to Delhi in an Air Ambulance, but unfortunately they lost him.

"After Uri this was the first infiltration attempt along the International Border and was given befitting reply. We have been able to give them the proper response and have given them message that if they touch even one of our men, they will face severe consequences," Kumar said.

The Additional Director General also informed that Gurnam's name will be recommended for the Gallantry Award.

Meanwhile, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh has offered his condolences to the heartbroken family of Gurnam Singh.

"I am saddened by the demise of BSF jawan Gurnam Singh. He has given an example of bravery on the border and gave his life for the nation. I laud the sheer bravery and sacrifice of Gurnam Singh and offer my condolences to his grieving family," Rajnath said in a series of tweets.

However, the distraught and crushed family of the slain soldier have asserted that he would have been alive if provided with better medical facilities.

Kulbir Singh, father of Gurnam said that had there been a separate hospital for BSF soldiers in RS Pura, proper treatment could have been given to him.

"There is only one government hospital here in Bakshinagar. That is why we demand that there should be separate health care system for BSF soldiers. Had it been installed he could have been given proper treatment," Singh told ANI.

"We all are proud of my brother's sacrifice", said Gurnam's sister Gurjeet Kaur.

Distraught by the loss, the family has demanded from Prime Minister Narendra Modi to construct a special hospital for all the BSF soldiers so that similar case does not repeat in the near future.

"I am proud of my brother's sacrifice. Not only me but my all relatives are proud of him. We all prayed for his recovery but it did not happen. We have only one request to Modi government that a proper health care system be installed for the BSF soldiers like my brother, who was just lying there with his injuries without any attention," said sister of Gurnam Singh.

Gurnam succumbed to his injuries last night, after he was critically injured in an attack by Pakistani forces at border area in Kathua district of Jammu and Kashmir on Friday.

The family of Gurnam Singh, on Saturday had demanded that the government take him abroad for better medical treatment to ensure his survival.

"Why is the government is still keeping him in the same hospital? Is there no other hospital in the country? The government can even send him to foreign (country), or a foreign doctor can be called. If ministers can go abroad for their treatment, then why can't army men?" asked Singh's sister, Gurjeet Kaur.

Still unaware about the actual condition of her brother, Kaur said that they had only got a call about the incident on afternoon Friday.

Dr. Rajinder Thappa, Chief Medical Officer at the Government Medical College said that the jawan had breathed his last on Saturday night 11: 30 p.m.

"His parents wanted him to be shifted to AIIMS for better treatment. We were about to do that yesterday but unfortunately he passed away," Thapa told ANI.

Gurnam received a bullet injury to his head on Friday when a Pakistani Ranger fired on his outpost in the Hiranagar area of Jammu.

The BSF launched an aggressive offensive, killing a militant and seven Pakistani Rangers in retaliation.

Gurnam was evacuated immediately to the Jammu Government Medical College where his condition remained critical.