At least 20 Indian soldiers, including a colonel, were martyred during a violent clash with Chinese troops in eastern Ladakh’s Galwan Valley on Monday night.
Earlier a statement was made by the army that one Indian Army officer and two jawans were killed in action. However, by late Tuesday evening, the Indian Army updated the figure to 20, saying that 17 others who sustained injuries during the clash had succumbed to death.
In the 20 jawans, there are two jawans of the same name. Due to similar names, another jawan’s family from Bihar’s Saran district was called up and informed that he was killed in the clash with China. However, It was Sunil Kumar of Bihata in Patna who was martyred in the clash. Incidentally, the name of the father of these two jawans is also similar.
An Army official had on Tuesday evening called Sunil’s wife Menaka and informed her about her husband’s death. The district officials also confirmed the same but said that they would wait for further information from the Army.
Meanwhile, the mourning family received an unexpected call on Wednesday and it was from Sunil himself. The jawan told his wife that he was alive. “Abhi zinda hoon,” he said. Reportedly, he was posted in Leh and not in Ladakh. As soon as jawan’s wife heard that Rai was safe, the atmosphere of mourning instantly changed into happiness.
It was nothing but a misunderstanding over the two similar names. “I have spoken to my husband over phone. God has given me a new lease of life,” said the jawan’s wife after receiving a call from him.
As per news agency ANI, 43 soldiers of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) were also killed in an escalated scuffle with Indian soldiers.
In a strong message to China, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday said the sacrifice of Indian soldiers will not go in vain. PM Modi also paid a heartily tribute to jawans who laid their lives for the nation in the violent face-off with Chinese troops.
PM Modi has also given a free hand to the Indian Army in the Ladakh region to safeguard the sovereignty and integrity of Indian borders. The decision was taken in the aftermath of the violent clash which led 20 Indian soldiers dead.
It is to be noted that this is the first deadly confrontation between the two Asian giants since 1975 in which Beijing has reportedly suffered a huge loss.
