Slain commando married in November

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Shooter’s brother wants a memorial

Martyr killed jihadi in hand-to-hand fight

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Havildar’s son wants to fight terrorists

Married barely two months ago, Garud commando Gursevak Singh had joined duty a week ago and the family living in Garnala village of Haryana’s Ambala district was, in fact, looking forward to his next holiday. Singh, who was hit in the initial burst of gunfire at Pathankot airbase on Saturday, kept fighting even after being hit, but died of his injuries before medical help could arrive. Singh’s father is an ex-serviceman while his elder brother is in the Army too.“My brother died a hero’s death,” said an overwhelmed Surjit Singh, brother of late Honorary Captain Fateh Singh. As relatives and friends gathered at his house at Jhanda Gujjran village, there were heart-rending scenes and proud moments too. Fateh Singh was an ace shooter, who retired from the Army in 2009 and joined DSC. “My brother died a hero’s death, like a true soldier. I want to make a memorial for him in the village,” Surjit told TOI. Fateh is survived by wife Shoba Rani, two sons and a daughter. One of the sons, Gurdeep Rana, is also serving in the Army. The family has been told that the body will arrive on Monday, Surjit added. Constable Jagdish Singh was among those in the Defence Security Corps canteen when the assailants began spraying bullets inside the building. Jagdish grappled with one of the terrorists, snatched the AK-47 rifle from his hands and killed him with it, J S Dhamoon, air officer commanding, Pathankot, revealed on Sunday. "Unfortunately, our martyr was killed by another jihadi at the same minute," said Damoon.The 17-year-old son of martyred Havildar Kulwant Singh was looking forward to meet his father on Sunday to discuss plans for further studies. But as luck would have it, Kulwant Singh died fighting militants in Pathankot."I am in class XII and wanted to discuss my future with him, but he will never come home,” said a sobbing Surinder Singh while talking to TOI at his residence at Chak Sharif village in Gurdaspur district. While he spent his Sunday mourning the irreparable loss, in a way, it also helped Surinder take a crucial career decision. He said he had now decided to join the police. “My father died fighting the militants. I have now decided to join the police so that I can continue his fight and take care of my ailing mother,” he said. Kulwant Singh had retired from the Army in 2004 and joined DSC in 2006. He is survived by wife HarbhajanKaur and two sons.