On Eid day, family of slain soldier plunges into gloom

On Eid day, the family of a soldier plunged into gloom in the Andhra Pradesh capital as the shocking news of his death in the line of duty in Jammu and Kashmir reached them.

Lance Naik Mohammmed Firoz Khan was killed when Pakistani troops violated the ceasefire along the Line of Control (LoC) and shelled an Indian post in Jammu and Kashmir's Poonch district Tuesday evening.

Khan was hit by a mortar splinter in Hamirpur area of Mendhar where Pakistan troops violated the ceasefire.

Khan, of Rashtriya Rifles, was 31. He is survived by his wife and two children.

Khan's house at Nawab Sahab Kunta in the old city of Hyderabad plunged into gloom even as family members were preparing for Eid-ul-Azha.

According to family members, Khan, who had come home for Eid-ul-Fitr two months ago, could not come this time. But he called his wife a few days ago and asked her to buy new clothes for the children.

Firoz Khan's father Jaffer Khan had also served in the Indian Army.

The slain soldier's body was being brought here Wednesday night.

Abid Rasool Khan, chairman of the State Minorities Commission, will receive the body and lay a wreath on behalf of the state government.

Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy expressed shock and anguish over the killing of the soldier.