Srinagar: Seventeen August two thousand twenty remains a day of remembrance for the families and comrades of Grenadier Ravi Kumar Singh and Grenadier Prashant Singh, two soldiers of twenty-ninth Rashtriya Rifles, who made the supreme sacrifice during a counter-terrorism operation in Kreeri, Baramulla, Jammu and Kashmir.
The two soldiers were part of a search team pursuing terrorists who had opened indiscriminate fire at a joint checkpoint of the Central Reserve Police Force and Jammu and Kashmir Police in the Kreeri area.
As the security forces moved in pursuit, Ravi Kumar Singh and Prashant Singh were among the first soldiers to come into contact with the terrorists. A fierce exchange of fire followed. Three terrorists were eliminated during the encounter, according to the Army's account.
Both Grenadiers suffered gunshot wounds during the firefight. Even after being seriously injured, they continued to engage the terrorists before being evacuated to Army's ninety-two Base Hospital in Srinagar. Their injuries, however, proved fatal.
Ravi Kumar Singh was twenty-six years old. He hailed from Gaura village in the Sadar tehsil of Mirzapur district, Uttar Pradesh, and had joined the Army in June two thousand thirteen. He is survived by his wife, Priyanka Singh, and their daughter.
Prashant Singh, aged twenty-five, belonged to Gawana village in the Paonta Sahib tehsil of Sirmaur district, Himachal Pradesh. He had joined the Army in September two thousand fourteen and is survived by his parents.
Their sacrifice was honoured by the Army at Badami Bagh Cantonment in Srinagar, where senior officers and representatives of the security forces paid tribute to the two soldiers.
The Government of India later included both names in the official list of posthumous gallantry award recipients. The record identifies them as Grenadier Ravi Kumar Singh and Grenadier Prashant Singh, The Grenadiers, twenty-ninth Battalion Rashtriya Rifles.
For the people of Kashmir, their story is also part of the larger history of the men who served in the Valley during years of counter-terrorism operations. The encounter in Kreeri lasted only a short time, but for their families, the loss has no ending.
Ravi and Prashant had joined the Army at a young age. Their careers were still in their early years when duty brought them to Kashmir. On that August day, they were among the soldiers who moved towards danger while others were trying to get away from it.
They did not return home.
Their names are remembered together because they stood together in their final operation.
Grenadier Ravi Kumar Singh
Grenadier Prashant Singh
Twenty-ninth Rashtriya Rifles | The Grenadiers
Kreeri, Baramulla | Seventeen August two thousand twenty
Two soldiers. Two families. One duty.
Their courage is remembered. Their service is honoured. Their sacrifice will never be forgotten.
**Lest We Forget. 🇮🇳**
