Family of armyman killed in Manipur 'proud of martyrdom'

The family members of Major Amit Deswal, who died in a gun battle with tribal militants in Manipur, on Thursday said they were proud of his "martyrdom".

Major Deswal of the 21 Special Force of Rashtriya Rifles who hailed from Surheti village in Haryana's Jhajjar district, 45 km from Gurgaon, died fighting militants in Manipur's Tamenglong district on Wednesday.

"The braveheart breathed his last in the true traditions of a warrior," said Deswal's brother-in-law Sanjeev Kumar.

His uncle Om Singh said: "The family mourns his death but he died for the country, a commando, fighting till the end."

Deswal's father and grandfather were also in the army.

The army major got married in 2009 and his wife and four-year-old son lived with him in Manipur. His other family members live in Sector 6 area in Jhajjar.

Deswal was commissioned on June 10, 2006 into the Regiment of Artillery.

"After his basic service, he recognised that his calling was somewhere more adventurous. He opted for the Special Group at first, but finally opted for the coveted Special Forces," Col. Narender Chikara (retd), with whom Deswal served in the Regiment of Artillery based in Gurgaon's Dundahera, told IANS.

"He joined the elite unit in January 2011. He was physically robust which was reflected in his performance. He got inducted in Manipur for an operation in January 2016," Col. Chikara said.

Deswal's body is scheduled to reach Gurgaon on Thursday.