Murali Naik, a 25-year-old soldier from Andhra Pradesh, was killed in cross-border shelling at the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir on early Friday. Naik, who belonged to the 851 Light Regiment, was the only son of agricultural labourers and dreamt of joining the armyread moreAs tensions continue to escalate between India and Pakistan, with cross-border shelling still raging in Jammu and Kashmir, a young Indian soldier has made the ultimate sacrifice.The 25-year-old M Murali Naik, a jawan from Andhra Pradesh, succumbed to his injuries early Friday after sustaining critical wounds in unprovoked Pakistani firing along the Line of Control (LoC).Naik hailed from a poor agricultural family in a tribal hamlet of Andhra Pradesh’s Sathya Sai district. He was stationed in the tense region in Jammu & Kashmir when the Pakistan Army launched unprovoked heavy artillery and mortar shelling following India’s
Operation Sindoor.STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS ADCatch India-Pakistan LIVE Updates
here.Efforts were made to airlift the injured jawan to New Delhi for urgent treatment, but unfortunately, he passed away before he could be evacuated.More from Explainers
CRPF soldier dismissed from service for not disclosing marriage to Pakistani woman
No Indian drone shot down: How New Delhi is exposing Pakistan’s lies after Op SindoorAs news of his death spread across the region, residents from surrounding hamlets visited the family to offer condolences. “We salute Murali Naik’s bravery and dedication. His sacrifice will not be forgotten,” a local police officer was quoted as saying by The News Minute.Here’s a closer look at his story.‘Dreamt of joining Army, loved the uniform’Murali Naik was the only son of Mudavath Sriram Naik and Mudavath Jyothi Bai, both working as agricultural labourers in Gorantla mandal, reports The Hindu.According to his father, Naik always dreamt of joining the Army. “He loved the uniform very much. He was a friendly and easy-going person. As an Army jawan, he was highly motivated and proud to serve the nation,” he told The Indian Express.In December 2022, Naik’s dream came true when he was inducted into the Army. He was posted with the 851 Light Regiment in Jammu and Kashmir.Editor’s Picks1From Pahalgam to Operation Sindoor: How India and Pakistan reached the brink of conflict2Are India and Pakistan at war? Not yet… Here’s whyHis cousin Ranjit recalled how Naik had called the family on the night of May 6 to inform them about gunfire from across the border. “He called again yesterday (Thursday) night and said there was even heavier firing. He was worried about his parents. I told him to take care of himself and be safe, and assured him that we relatives will look after his parents,” Ranjit said.STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD“He sounded worried, which was never the case before. He described the constant shelling and firing from across the border.”Tensions remain high along the Line of Control (LoC) as Pakistan continues its unprovoked firing in several sectors of Jammu and Kashmir. File image/ PTIOn Friday morning, the family received the devastating call. A senior Army officer reached out to Naik’s mother between 3 and 3:30 am, informing her that her son had been injured while fighting back during a heavy exchange of fire. He passed away while being evacuated.The tragic news spread quickly, prompting a wave of condolences from leaders and villagers alike. Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu paid tribute on X, posting:“It is saddening to hear of the loss of a soldier named Murali Nayak from Gorantla Mandal, Penukonda Assembly Constituency, Sri Sathya Sai district, in the defence of the country. Tributes to the martyr Murali Nayak, who laid down his life for the nation. I express my deepest condolences to his family members,” he posted on X.The CM is expected to visit the village and announce ex gratia for the grieving family.STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS ADGovernor S Abdul Nazeer also expressed his condolences on X, while former CM and YSRCP President Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy joined in paying tribute.Pakistan continues unprovoked firing at LoCTensions remain high along the LoC as Pakistan continues its unprovoked firing in several sectors of Jammu and Kashmir.In a statement released on Thursday, the Defence Ministry confirmed that Pakistani forces had launched heavy shelling across the LoC in areas including Kupwara, Baramulla, Uri, and Akhnoor.STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS ADThe Poonch region has been particularly affected, witnessing intense cross-border shelling that has led to the death of 16 civilians and left 59 others injured.The Indian Army also suffered a tragic loss during the recent escalation.
Lance Naik Dinesh Kumar, a 32-year-old jawan hailing from Palwal district in Haryana, was killed in action during heavy artillery and mortar fire from the Pakistani side.Dinesh Kumar, who hailed from Mohammadpur village in Haryana’s Palwal district, was killed in cross-border shelling along the Line of Control (LoC) on Wednesday. Image courtesy: X/ @NayabSainiThe recent spike in hostilities comes in the aftermath of India’s precision strikes targeting nine terror camps located in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. These camps reportedly housed operatives of terror outfits such as Jaish-e-Mohammed and Lashkar-e-Taiba.India’s strikes were a direct response to the April 22 terror attack in
Pahalgam, where 26 civilians, mostly tourists, were killed — one of the deadliest attacks in Kashmir in recent years.As cross-border firing continues, the situation along the LoC remains volatile.With input from agenciesTagsIndiaIndia-Pakistan TensionEnd of Article
Visit source:
Who was Murali Naik, the 25-year-old Indian jawan killed in Pakistan firing?
