CDS chopper crash: K'taka mourns its son-in-law Lt Col Harjinder Singh
Darpan News Desk IANS, 09 Dec, 2021 12:01 PM
Udupi (Karnataka), Dec 9 (IANS) Lieutenant Colonel Harjinder Singh who died in the tragic helicopter crash along with the Chief of Defence Staff, General Bipin Rawat and others, had been married to Prafulla from Karnataka.
Prafulla is the native of Salmaru village near Karkala town in Udupi district. A pall of gloom descended on the family after the news of the tragedy broke out. The entire Udupi district and the state is now mourning the death of its brave son-in-law.
Harjinder Singh and Prafulla liked each other and got married 15 years ago. The couple has a daughter. Harjinder Singh worked as the secretary to CDS Bipin Rawat.
The family members of Prafulla remember Harjinder Singh visiting the house four years ago. Puspa, Prafulla's elder sister recalled how Harjinder smilingly spoke to all in the family and remained humble. "He was a friendly and affectionate person. He behaved well with everyone. He also took care of his colleagues with empathy. Prafulla's brother has gone to New Delhi to attend the funeral," she said.
Family members explained that, though they are in a state of shock, Prafulla, the wife of Late Harjiinder Singh, is calling the family members to remain calm and courageous at this hour of crisis. Prafulla's sister's husband Valerian stated that she is displaying exemplary courage and pacifying family members when the tragedy has struck her.
"Harjinder Singh was a friendly type of person. He was as cool as a kid," he remembered.
Rejecting all opposition to his elevation, Congress interim President Sonia Gandhi appointed Navjot Singh Sidhu as the party's new Punjab unit President along with four Working Presidents.
Calling the reports of alleged snooping on prominent citizens using Israeli Pegasus spyware as "baseless", the ruling BJP on Monday said there is not a single shred of evidence so far that links either the central government or the party to this controversy.
Congress MPs from both Houses had met on Sunday afternoon at Rajya Sabha member Pratap Singh Bajwa's residence to discuss the issues related to Punjab and sought an appointment with Gandhi.
Apart from reviewing the security arrangements in the national capital, the Delhi Police have also strengthened the security in and around the Red Fort ahead of the Independence Day.
Police said acting on a specific information, Budgam Police along with the Army's 53 RR and 43 BN of the CRPF arrested one local terrorist linked with proscribed terror outfit LeT and recovered incriminating materials, arms and ammunition including one Chinese pistol, one magazine, eight live pistol rounds from his possession.
As the Pegasus spyware scandal unravelled within and outside Parliament, he termed it a "shocking assault" on India's democratic polity by the Union government, which had compromised the national security with "this blatantly disgraceful act".
