People pay last respects to mortal remains of Capt Brijesh Thapa, killed in Doda encounter

DARJEELING: people paid their last respects to Captain Brijesh Thapa, who lost his life in the Doda encounter, at his native place, Lebong, Darjeeling, on Friday.

Four Indian Army soldiers, including Captain Brijesh Thapa, were killed in action during an encounter with terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir’s Doda district on Tuesday.

“The last rites of my son will be performed today. People are coming here and showing their love and respect for my son. I feel proud that my son has gained so much love. We are always ready to sacrifice our lives for the nation, and what my son has done is one example”, Colonel Bhuwanesh Thapa (retd), father of Captain Brijesh Thapa, said.

The last rites of Captain Brijesh Thapa will be performed on Friday at the Ging Lamahatta Crematorium in Lebong, Darjeeling. On July 16, Colonel Bhuwanesh Thapa (retd) remembered his son and expressed his pride in his son’s service to the nation and its security.

He said that the government is taking action against the terrorists. “I could not believe it when I was informed that he was no more. He always wanted to be in the Indian Army, right from his childhood. He used to wear my Army dress and roam around. Even after he had completed his engineering, he still wanted to join the Army. He cleared the exam in one go and was admitted. I feel proud that my son has done something for the nation and for its security. The only sad part is that we won’t be able to meet him again; otherwise, I am happy that he sacrificed his life for his country,” he said.

On July 15, based on specific intelligence inputs, a joint operation by the Indian Army and the JK police was in progress in the area north of Doda. According to the White Knight Corps, contact with the terrorists was established at about 9 PM, during which a heavy firefight ensued. Four Army soldiers, including an officer, were killed in the ensuing firefight.

During the encounter, security forces recovered 30 rounds of the AK-47, one magazine of the AK-47 rifle, and one HE-36 hand grenade.

On July 16, Lt Gen M V Suchindra Kumar, Northern Army Commander, laid a wreath to pay homage to the bravehearts Captain Brijesh Thapa, Naik D Rajesh, Sepoy Bijendra, and Sepoy Ajay Kumar Singh, who laid down their lives in the line of duty to ensure peace in the region while undertaking a counter-terrorist operation in Doda. The White Knight Corps said that the Dhruva Command stands firm with the bereaved families in this hour of grief. (ANI)