Captain Karamjit Singh Bakshi and Naik Mukesh Singh Manhas of 9 Punjab, martyred in an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) blast near the Line of Control (LOC) in the Akhnoor sector of Jammu on Tuesday, were both engaged and waiting to tie the knot in April 2025.
A pall of gloom descended on the families of the soldiers as the mortal remains of these two bravehearts were dispatched to their hometowns in Hazaribagh, Jharkhand and Samba for the last rites on Wednesday.
At both places, the telltale signs of ongoing renovation work were visible as their families were eagerly waiting to solemnize their marriage ceremonies.
A solemn wreath-laying ceremony was organised at the Air Force Station in Jammu where Lt-Gen Navin Sachdeva, General Officer Commanding of the Nagrota-based White Knight Corps paid homage along with several other senior police and civil officers.
Captain Bakshi, who hailed from Hazaribagh in Jharkhand, had recently visited his home to oversee wedding preparations scheduled for April 5. A coursemate who had recently attended an advanced training course in the Army War College, Mhow while paying tributes to Captain Bakshi said he was very passionate about his duty. “He was a bold officer and always led from the front. We were all looking forward to attending his marriage ceremony and now we have to join a prayer meeting in his sweet memory”.
A close relative of Captain Bakshi said his family runs a Restaurant in Hazaribagh. Lovingly known as Puneet, Captain Bakshi had recently resumed his duties in the first week of February 2025.
Captain Bakshi’s father, Ajinder Singh Bakshi, and mother, Neelu Bakshi, were left crestfallen by the loss of their elder son. The entire Hazaribagh community is mourning the martyrdom of their brave son of the soil.
Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren on Wednesday condoled the death of Captain Karamjit Singh Bakshi and the slain army jawan.
State BJP chief Babulal Marandi also expressed grief over the death of the army personnel.
“Received the sad news of the martyrdom of Captain Karamjit Singh Bakshi from Jharkhand and another army jawan during a search operation in Akhnoor, Jammu. May Marang Buru grant peace to the souls of the martyred soldiers and give strength to the bereaved families to bear this difficult time of grief,” Soren posted on X.
Meanwhile, a religious function was going on at the residence of Naik Mukesh Singh Manhas in Samba when the army authorities reached out to them to inform them about the IED blast and injuries suffered by their son in the Akhnoor sector.
Naik Mukesh Singh Manhas returned to his Army unit in the Akhnoor sector on January 28 after a two-week holiday for his ring ceremony. He too was constructing his home ahead of tying the nuptial knot.
Naik Mukesh Singh comes from a family of patriots. His father Chagatar Singh served in the Jammu and Kashmir police while his younger brother is currently serving in the Indian army.
Paying glowing tributes to Naik Mukesh Singh, former Sarpanch Mukhtiyar Singh remembered him as an enthusiastic cricketer, motivator, and always ready to extend a helping hand to the needy.
Naik Mukesh was set to get married around April 20-21, the grieving father said, as his relatives and neighbors made a beeline in front of the house to convey their condolences.
Referring to the service career of his son, Naik Mukesh Singhs’ father told media persons in Bri Kamila village of Samba district, “He served the Army for more than nine years and a half, performing his duties in (Siachen) glacier (in Ladakh), Kashmir and Punjab, before moving to Jammu’s Akhnoor recently. He returned to his unit on January 28 after a two-week leave from duty for his ring ceremony,”
Narrotam Singh, another resident of the village, said Manhas was full of energy and was always motivating youngsters to get involved in sporting activities.
