DEHRADUN: Rifleman Anuj Negi, 25, was one of the five
soldiers
from Garhwal Rifles who lost their lives when armed terrorists ambushed their convoy in Kathua district of Jammu & Kashmir on Monday. Hailing from Dobariya
village
in Pauri Garhwal district, Negi was the "financial backbone of his family". He got married in November last year and is survived by his wife, who is two months pregnant, and parents.
His father, 50, works as a daily wager in the local forest department office near the village.
Talking to TOI, Nandan Singh Rawat, Anuj's uncle who lives in the same village, said Negi joined the Indian
Army
six years ago with the intention of improving his family's financial condition while serving the nation.
"Anuj was a devoted family man. During his last visit home, he was making efforts to plan his sister's marriage, but unfortunately he made the ultimate sacrifice before he could witness her wedding," Rawat said.
Sateshwari Devi, another villager, said, "Anuj's wife is two months pregnant. He was overjoyed upon learning the news and was excited about his new role in the family. However, fate had different plans for him."
She added, "The women of the village have decided to look after his pregnant wife, ensuring she delivers a healthy baby. We will also assist her in raising the child and share the heroic stories of the father when the child grows up. The entire village stands united with the grieving family during this difficult period."
Among the other soldiers who were killed in the terrorist attack was Rifleman Adarsh Negi, 26, from Thatti Dagar village in Tehri Garhwal district. The youngest of three siblings - a brother and a sister - Adarsh left his BSc course after two years to join the Army in 2019. His father is a farmer while his elder brother works at a restaurant in the district.
"When Adarsh cracked the Army recruitment test, he decided to leave his studies midway. His decision was driven by the need to financially support his family. He last visited his village in April to attend his cousin's wedding. His sacrifice has made him an inspiration for the youth of the village," said Nandan Singh Rawat, one of his family members.
In another village, Papri in Pauri Garhwal, residents remembered Havildar Kamal Singh Rawat, 28, as being deeply concerned about the
education
of his two daughters, aged 3 and 5. His elder daughter is in class 1, while the younger one is in LKG.
"That's all he spoke about," said village resident Rajpal Singh Gusain. "Kamal was determined to provide better education to his daughters but it was difficult in his village as it is in a remote, hilly area. Due to this, he moved his family, including his wife and mother, to a rented accommodation in Kotdwar city, approximately 70 km from his village."
Naib Subedar Anand Singh Rawat, 41, was the only junior commissioner officer (JCO) among the dead. From Kanda-Bhardar village in Rudraprayag district, he had built a house in Dehradun three years ago, where he lived with his wife and two daughters, aged 13 and 15.
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