Rajnath Singh hails BSF jawan Gurnam Singh's sacrifice

Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Sunday offered his condolences to the heartbroken family of Border Security Force (BSF) jawan Gurnam Singh, who succumbed to his injuries last night after he was shot in cross-border firing, and asserted that the slain soldier had given a shining example of sheer bravery.

"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.

Gurnam Singh, 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 26 year old jawan was being treated at the Government Medical College and Hospital in Jammu.

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.

Meanwhile, the kin of Gurnam Singh are distraught and heartbroken at the loss, but have asserted that they are proud of their son's sacrifice.

"He was brave. Our son has sacrificed his life for the nation. nobody is sad..in fact we're all happy," Kulbir Singh, father of Gurnam 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.