At Braveheart's Cremation, Colonel MN Rai Daughter Shouts His Regiment's War Cry

She stood there, tears rolling down her cheeks, an 11-year-old girl seeing her father for the last time.

Alka Rai rose above her grief to shriek an old Gorkha war cry; then she saluted her father Colonel MN Rai, an officer of the 2/9 Gurkha Rifles who was commanding the 42 Rashtriya Rifles.

The 39-year-old was killed by terrorists in Tral in Kashmir on Tuesday. A day earlier, he had been honoured for his bravery and awarded a Yudh Seva Medal on Republic Day, recognition for his immense capability and success as a Commanding Officer involved in anti-terror operations.

Colonel Rai is survived by his wife, Priyanka, and three children - two daughters and a son, Aditya.

At the very solemn ceremony today at Brar Square at Delhi Cantonment, 6-year-old Aditya touched his father's feet for the last time, perhaps not understanding the gravity of what had happened.

His mother was inconsolable, almost unable to stand as she tried to shower her husband's body with petals.

Helping her was a CRPF officer in uniform. He stood strong, holding Priyanka up and guiding her away. The officer was none other than YN Rai, Colonel MN Rai's brother. In 2002, YN Rai had taken a bullet for the country, fighting terrorists in Jammu during the famous operation at the Raghunath Temple when terror.