Guwahati: People of Ghatbar Saderi in Bajali, Assam, had always been proud of Pronoy Kalita. Today the entire village is in tears.
Pronoy, the brave Assam Rifles trooper who had been a source of inspiration for many others of his village and who had made them proud with his bravery, was martyred in a deadly ambush by insurgents in Manipur earlier today.
Two other troopers were also killed while five more were wounded in an ambush by People’s Liberation Army (PLA) militants in Manipur’s Chandel district near the border with Myanmar.
“Assam Rifles authorities called my sister, informing her about his martyrdom in the ambush. We have been shattered, absolutely devastated by the news,” his brother-in-law told News Live, unable to hold back his tears.
“It feels so untrue. He had called his wife and children yesterday. And today he is no more,” another relative said.
The 37-year-old braveheart had joined the paramilitary force in 2002.
He is survived by his wife, two minor daughters besides other family members and a host of relatives and friends.
“We had always been very proud of him. He was very brave and youngsters of his village and other localities nearby looked up to him as an icon. We are mourning his untimely demise,” a villager said.
Meanwhile, Pronoy Kalita’s last rites will be carried out with full state honours with Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal already instructing officers to accord him a state funeral.
