I will finish them off one by one: Martyred Sergeant’s daughter vows to avenge father killed in Pak shelling

Sergeant Surendra Moga was martyred in the RS Pura sector due to Pakistani shelling amidst heightened tensions. His daughter, Vartika, expressed immense pride and a desire to avenge his death by joining the army. This sacrifice occurred after Indi...

Reuters
Daughter Vartika of IAF (Indian Air Force) soldier Surendra Kumar who died during an attack on Udhampur, salutes her father as his body is taken away on the day of his funeral at his home in Mahradasi village, Jhunjhunu in Rajasthan, India, May 11, 2025.
The air in Mandawa village hung heavy with grief and pride on Sunday as the mortal remains of Sergeant Surendra Moga arrived home draped in the tricolour.

The airman from Jhunjhunu district was martyred during intense shelling by Pakistani forces in the RS Pura sector, one of the many flashpoints in the recent military escalation between India and Pakistan.

However, amid the mourning, one voice stood out — resolute, fiery, and unwavering. Vartika, the young daughter of Sergeant Moga.


“I am proud of my father,” she told ANI. “He was martyred while killing the enemies and protecting the nation.”

Recounting their last conversation, she said her father had called the family at around 9 pm the previous night. He had spoken of the drones that hovered above the border, alerting them to the ever-present danger.

“He said the drones were roaming but not attacking. We didn’t know that would be our last conversation,” she said.
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But her grief quickly turned into defiance. “Pakistan should be finished entirely,” she declared. “I want to become a soldier like my father and avenge his death. I will finish them off one by one.”


A soldier’s sacrifice


Sergeant Surendra Moga's death came as tensions soared between India and Pakistan following the recent terror attack in Pahalgam, which killed 25 tourists.

In response, India launched Operation Sindoor on May 7, a series of precision strikes targeting nine terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).
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Pakistan retaliated with shelling along the International Border, including in the RS Pura sector where Sergeant Moga was stationed. He was killed in action while manning his post under heavy fire.


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The hostilities between the two nations have since led to multiple military and diplomatic escalations, including the temporary closure of several Indian airports and the deployment of additional forces along the border.

Though both countries announced a ceasefire agreement over the weekend, sporadic violations continued hours after the declaration.
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