Pathankot attack: Lt Col Niranjan Kumar was head of bomb squad

PALAKKAD: The body of Lt Col Niranjan Kumar of the National Security Guard, who was killed during "mopping up operations" on Sunday morning at Pathankot, will be brought back to his hometown near here on Monday for the last rites.

A pall of gloom descended on Elampulassery village, 12km from Mannarkkad, as distraught relatives and local people had difficulty reconciling the bad news with the image of the alwayssmiling young man who came visiting regularly.

Lt Col Niranjan was head of the elite bomb squad of the NSG and an "explosives expert".

Officials said he was undertaking a mopping up procedure on the encounter spot when a blast occurred and splinters and sharpnels hit the officer fatally.
"He was a brave soldier. "His professionalism and dedication to serve the nation will inspire everyone in NSG for many many years to come. I salute to the brave soul," National Security Guard Director General R C Tayal said.

Niranjan was commissioned in the Engineers Regiment of the Army in 2004.

The commando, whose family was settled in Bengaluru, is survived by his wife and two-year-old daughter. His father Sivarajan left Bengaluru for Delhi to receive Niranjan's remains, which will be brought to Bengaluru on Sunday night.

Niranjan, his wife Dr Radhika and their child had visited their ancestral house in the village last Onam, where his grandmother lives.