A soldier who attained martyrdom after killing 10 militants

An Indian Army soldier who was killed in a gunfight with militants in Jammu and Kashmir's Kupwara district earlier this week attained martyrdom after killing 10 guerrillas in 11 days, a military official said on Saturday.

"Lance Naik Mohan Nath Goswami, a Special Forces Commando of the Indian Army has created a unique history of valour and dedication to duty by eliminating 10 terrorists in 11 days before laying down his life in service of the nation in Kashmir Valley," defence spokesman of the army's Udhampur-based northern command, Colonel S.D. Goswami, told IANS here.

"He volunteered to join the elite para commando outfit of the Indian Army in 2002 and went on to gain the reputation of being one of the toughest soldiers of his unit - no small feat in an outfit that boasts of being one among the best in the world."

"He volunteered for all operational missions undertaken by his unit and was a part of numerous successful counter-terrorist operations in Jammu and Kashmir," he said.

"In the last 11 days, he was actively involved in three counter-terrorism operations in the Kashmir Valley in which 10 terrorists were eliminated and one captured alive."

"The first operation was conducted in Khurmur, Handwara, on August 23. The operation resulted in elimination of three hardcore LeT terrorists of Pakistan-origin," he added.

"He volunteered for a second back-to-back operation in Rafiabad, Kashmir. The operation was conducted over two days on August 26-27. It witnessed a fierce gunfight that led to the elimination of three more LeT terrorists."

"The LeT terrorist, Sajjad Ahmad alias Abu Ubed Ullah, resident of Muzzafargarh, Pakistan was captured alive in this operation," the colonel said.

"The apprehending of this terrorist has proved to be a shot in the arm to prove Pakistan's complicity in abetting terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir."

"Lance Naik Goswami, once again, volunteered to be part of an ongoing operation launched in the dense Hafruda forest near Kupwara, Kashmir, on September 3," he said.

"This proved to be his last operation but not before elimination of four terrorists in a heavy gunbattle. A true soldier, he breathed his last in action."

The mortal remains of this braveheart commando were flown by an IAF aircraft to his home town in Bareilly from where his body will be taken by Army helicopter to Pant Nagar and onward to his native place where he will be cremated with full military honours.

Lance Naik Mohan Nath Goswami belonged to Indira Nagar village in Nainital. He is survived by his wife and a 7-year-old daughter.