In son’s birth, martyr comes alive for family

AMBALA: Having been martyred in a counter-terrorism operation in Kashmir on August 6, Lance Naik Vikramjit Singh is alive for his family again. Two months after the soldier was killed in a gunfight in Bandipora, his wife Harpreet Kaur gave birth to a boy at a hospital in Ambala Cantonment on Tuesday.

For Lance Naik Singh’s family, the newborn, named Gurfateh, is a reincarnation of his father, said the martyr’s brother, Monu Singh, who is also in Army. The slain soldier’s father, Baljinder Singh, wept as he held the newborn in his arms. “My martyred son has come back and has brought happiness in the home again,” he said, speaking to journalists.

A family member said Vikramjit had come to know about his wife’s pregnancy when he was alive and the couple had decided on Gurfateh Singh as the name in case of a boy being born. Gurfateh is a Punjabi name and means victory by the blessings of gurus.

Vikramjit joined the Army in 2013 and his first posting was with 36 Rashtriya Rifles (RR) in Ferozepur. A year and a half into service, he was posted to Gurez sector of Srinagar. On August 6, the Army received information that militants had entered Bakhtoor and Naini areas of Gurez sector. Though men of 36 RR and 9 Grenadiers killed four militants in the ensuing gunfight, Vikramjit and four other soldiers were also martyred.

Monu is posted in Assam. “My brother has returned and I am coming home for the holidays this month to see him,” he said, while speaking over the phone.

At present, the mother and the child are under observation at the hospital and are said to be in good health.