Hyderabad: A 24-year-old Army jawan from Andhra Pradesh, who joined as an Agniveer in 2022, was killed during a ceasefire violation Thursday night on the Line of Control (LoC).
M. Murali Naik was from the Kalli Thanda village in the Gorantla mandal of Sri Satya Sai district. His family has been living in Kamraj Nagar in Mumbai’s Ghatkopar since they shifted there many years ago to earn a livelihood.
“Murali’s education was completed in Andhra Pradesh, in our native district,” his uncle Lakshman Naik told ThePrint Friday over the phone from Kalli Thanda, where the family is on a visit for a private function.
The family is shattered on learning of his demise. Naik, who is from the Scheduled Tribe community, was recruited as an Agniveer in 2022 and underwent training at Nashik. He served in Assam, Punjab and other states previously.
“We would speak to him regularly but he did not disclose his latest posting on the border apparently to avoid worry and anxiety in the family, especially his elderly parents, given the tense situation there,” Lakshman said.
“He planned to get married in a couple of years and we were to look for a bride. Now, it will remain a dream for his parents and us.”
Naik was injured in the cross-border firing in the intervening night of Thursday-Friday and died in the wee hours. His mortal remains are expected to reach the village Saturday morning. Arrangements are underway for Naik’s final rites with state and Army honours.
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu paid floral tributes to a photo of Naik at Uravakonda, a nearby town, where he was on an official tour on Friday. He also paid tribute to him at the Kurnool airport later.
“Saddened by the loss of life of soldier Murali Naik. I express my deepest condolences to the family members of Naik who was martyred while defending the country,” Naidu said in a post on ‘X’.
YSRCP chief and former chief minister Jagan Mohan Reddy said Naik’s “supreme sacrifice for the nation will forever inspire us”.
Pakistan has intensified ceasefire violations along the LoC in Jammu and Kashmir after India conducted precision airstrikes on terror infrastructure across the border under Operation Sindoor in retaliation for the 22 April Pahalgam terrorist attack.
(Edited by Ajeet Tiwari)
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