Lance Naik Mohan Nath Goswami, a Special Forces Commando of the Army who laid down his life while battling militants in Handwara on Thursday, eliminated 10 militants in a short span of 11 days before making the supreme sacrifice in Kashmir.

"In the last 11 days, he was actively involved in three counter-terrorism operations in the Kashmir Valley in which 10 terrorists have been eliminated and one captured alive," Udhampur-based Defence Spokesman Colonel S D Goswami said.

The spokesman said Lance Naik Goswami volunteered to join the elite Para Commando outfit of the Army in 2002 and went on to gain the reputation of being one of the toughest soldiers of his unit - "no small feat in an outfit that boasts of being one among the best in the world".

The Lance Naik volunteered for all operational missions undertaken by his unit and was a part of numerous successful counter-terrorist operations in Jammu and Kashmir.

"The first operation was conducted in Khurmur, Handwara, on August 23. The operation resulted in elimination of three hardcore LeT terrorists of Pakistan origin. He volunteered for a second back to back operation in Rafiabad, Kashmir. The operation was conducted over two days on August 26 and 27. It witnessed a fierce gunfight that led to the elimination of three more LeT terrorists," the spokesman said.

He said Lashkar-e-Toiba militant Sajjad Ahmad alias Abu Ubaidullah, resident of Muzzafargarh, Pakistan was captured alive in this operation. "The apprehension of a terrorist has proved to be a shot in the arm to prove Pakistan's complicity in abetting terrorism in J&K," he added.

Lance Naik Goswami once again volunteered to be part of an operation launched in the dense Hafruda forest near Kupwara. "This proved to be his last operation but not before elimination of four terrorists in a heavy gunbattle," the spokesman said.

A true soldier, Lance Naik Goswami breathed his last in action. "The mortal remains of this brave heart commando have been flown by an IAF aircraft to his home town in Bareilly. They will be taken by Army helicopter to Pant Nagar and onward to his native place where he will be cremated with full military honour," he said.

Lance Naik Goswami was a resident of Village Indira Nagar, Haldwani in Nainital. He is survived by wife and a seven-year-old daughter.

