Darjeeling, West Bengal — Four Indian Army personnel, including Captain Brijesh Thapa, were killed in an exchange of fire with terrorists in Jammu’s Doda on Monday night, leaving their families and communities in deep mourning.
Captain Brijesh Thapa, originally from Bada Ging near Lebong in Darjeeling, joined the army in 2019 after clearing the Combined Defence Services (CDS) examination, continuing the legacy of his father, Colonel Bhuwanesh Thapa, who served for 34 years before retiring in 2014. The Thapa family, now residing in Siliguri, received the devastating news at 10:30 pm on Monday. Despite their grief, Bhuwanesh Thapa expressed pride in his son’s service: “I feel proud that our son has done something for the nation. But we will miss him for the rest of our lives.”
Captain Thapa’s mother, Nilima Thapa, shared that they last spoke to Brijesh on Sunday, who mentioned the remote and challenging conditions of his posting. His remains are expected to arrive at Bagdogra airport on Wednesday, with the funeral to be held in Bada Ging.
Similar sorrow has enveloped two villages in Rajasthan’s Jhunjhunu district, mourning the deaths of 24-year-old Ajay Singh and 26-year-old Bijendra Singh. Ajay Singh, from Bhesawat, also came from a military family; his father, Kamal Singh, retired in 2015, and his uncle is currently serving. Ajay’s younger brother, Ravindra, reflected on the family’s military tradition: “Many in our family have served in the armed forces. The entire village is in mourning. Not everyone has the fortune to serve the nation and sacrifice themselves in service to the nation.”
Bijendra Singh, from Dumoli Kalan Ki Dhandi, joined the army in 2018 and leaves behind two sons. His brother, Dashrath Singh, who is also in the army, received the tragic news while posted in Lucknow. Their father, Ramji Lal, while mourning his son’s loss, called on the government to address the issue of terrorism: “Both my sons are in the army to serve the nation. I am proud of my son but urge the government to end terrorism. To lose my son is the biggest loss for my family.”
The fourth soldier killed was Dokkari Rajesh from Chetlatandra village in Andhra Pradesh’s Srikakulam district. Rajesh, who hailed from a family of shepherds, joined the army six years ago. A villager noted Rajesh’s commitment to education, stating, “The family struggled a lot to provide education to Rajesh and his younger brother. He used to use a part of his salary to clear the fees of poor students in his village.”
The loss of these brave soldiers has cast a shadow over their communities, highlighting the sacrifices made by those who serve the nation.
