Pay your tribute to martyr Col M N Rai

Colonel MN Rai, the commanding officer of the Rashtriya Rifles laid down his life in counter insurgency operations on Tuesday, January 27, afternoon in Jammu and Kashmir. He was given an emotional farewell on Thursday. Family members were inconsolable as top Army officials paid their tributes. PAY YOUR TRIBUTE IN THE COMMENT BOX BELOW

Army Chief General Dalbir Singh Suhag paid homage to the brave soldier and met Col Rai's widow and children. Lt Col Dhirendra Nath Rai, the elder brother of Col MN Rai said that his brother was a man of large profile who did things at par excellence. "From his childhood till now he was gallant. We all brothers follow principles set up by our father," Col MN Rai's brother Commandant Yatendra Nath Rai said.

39-year-old Col Munindra Nath Rai laid down his life in Hindura village when he came under fire. The fire fight, in which both militants were killed, also led to the death head constable Sanjeev Kumar on the spot.

Col Rai was awarded the Yudh Seva Medal on Monday (Republic Day) for killing a foreign terrorist in a close encounter last year, however he did not live to collect his medal.

Fellow Army men and his friends remember Rai as a daring, honest and hardworking officer. Col Rai's father Nagendra Rai recalls of his son as a man of simple and gentle nature who would never get angry.

Rai's last status on the mobile messaging service WhatsApp, posted two months ago, read: "Play your role in life with such passion, that even after the curtains come down, the applause doesn't stop."

Col Rai was approached by father and brother of one of the slain terrorists saying he would like to surrender and while Rai was hearing them out the terrorists burst into the scene firing indiscriminately.

Colonel Rai displayed quick thinking and retaliated immediately and after a brief and intense fire fight the two terrorists were eliminated. The slain militants were identified as Avid Ahmad Khan and Shiraz Ahmad Dar of Hizbul Mujaheedin outfit.

The two killed militants, Avid Khan and Siraj Drar, had been working with Hizbul for the past three and one year respectively. Khan who belongs to Hindura, along with Drar had come to visit his family at home. Both them were involved in many terrorist operations in Jammu and Kashmir.