Martyred soldier from Kashmir made the country proud

Lance Naik Ghulam Mohi-ud-din Rather was working overtime to get his sister married to a suitable boy. Few months ago, he finally found a groom and solemnised the engagement of his sister.

A family man and a patriot, Lance Naik made India proud when he laid down his life while fighting armed militants at Mulu Chitragam village in the South Kashmir's Shopian district.

Lance Naik Rather was among the three soldiers killed in the militant ambush in Shopian on Wednesday night. Lance Naik Rather is survived by his wife Shahzada Akhter and son Aahil Mohi-ud-din besides his parents.

"They were preparing for his sister's wedding this year. But everything has gone haywire with him gone," said Mushtaq Ahmad, close family friend and neighbour of Lance Naik Rather.

"He was the only earning member of his family. His father and mother are not keeping well. He was keeping a stock of medicine for them. Sometimes he would drop in to give medicines. If he was not able to come, he called his relatives to get the medicines," said Ahmad.

Hundreds of people turned up at Lance Naik Rather's home on Thursday to offer condolences to the family. "So far the body has not arrived here," said Ahmad.

"There are so many people who are serving in the army. But he is the only boy from the village who has died. He (Lance Naik) used to visit home as he was posted nearby. There is a grief and people are coming to offer condolences", said Shabir Ahmad, a close neighbour of Lance Naik Rather.