Native village awaits Uttarakhand’s brave heart martyred in Kishtwar Encounter
Native village awaits Uttarakhand’s brave heart martyred in Kishtwar Encounter
Prem Prakash Upadhyay “Natural”
Bageshwar, Jan 20
Havildar Gajendra Singh Gadiya, a valiant soldier from Kapkot in Uttarakhand, laid down his life while fighting terrorists during an encounter in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kishtwar district. The 43-year-old was serving with the elite 2 Para Commando (Special Forces) unit of the Indian Army was martyred in an operation in the Shripura area on January 18.
Havildar Gadiya joined the Indian Army in 2004 and spent over two decades in uniform, serving in one of the most demanding and high-risk combat units. Known for his courage, discipline and unwavering devotion to duty, he embodied the finest traditions of the Indian Army. He will be accorded full military honours at the cremation.
The martyr was the sole breadwinner of his family. His parents depend on farming for their livelihood, and the family’s financial condition was already fragile. While the district and the nation take pride in his supreme sacrifice, his family has been left to bear an irreparable personal loss.
A deep hush has descended upon Veethi–Gainad village in the Kapkot area of Bageshwar district as the mortal remains of the fallen soldier are scheduled to reach Uttarakhand today. The entire village is waiting for a final glimpse of its brave son. On Monday night, not a single hearth was lit. In this small settlement of barely 25 families, grief hangs heavy in the air.
Villagers remember Gajendra Gadiya as a warm, helpful and compassionate individual, always ready to stand by others. His martyrdom has plunged not only the village but the entire region into mourning. The most heart-rending aspect of the tragedy is that his mother, Chandra Gadiya, has not yet been informed of her son’s sacrifice. His aunt, Ramuli Devi, who is staying with her, remains anxious, sensing an unspoken calamity.
The family had already been grappling with adversity. Sitting at a lonely spot near the village, Gajendra’s uncle waits for his brother, overcome with emotion. “A person like Gajendra is born only once,” he said.
It is recalled that Gajendra had recently visited the village with his family and offered prayers at the Ban Devta temple. No one imagined it would be his final visit. His wife Leela Gadiya, along with their two young sons—Rahul (10) and Dheeraj (8)—is on her way to the village, though nightfall may force them to halt at Kapkot. His sisters Khashti and Pushpa are married, while his 30-year-old younger brother Kishan Gadiya is unmarried.
Villagers say that even the journey of the mortal remains is fraught with challenges. The distance from Kapkot to the village is around 10 kilometres, much of it along damaged dirt roads, followed by a nearly three-kilometre trek through dense forest and steep terrain. Despite these hardships, every resident is determined to pay their last respects.
Gajendra Singh Gadiya’s sacrifice has united the entire village as one family—where tears have replaced meals, and waiting has become a prayer. Local residents and social workers said that through his martyrdom, he has brought honour not only to his village and region, but to the nation. His name, they said, will remain immortal in the chronicles of bravery.
