Nine-year-old Tanuj Kumar Satpathy, whose father was killed in the Pahalgam terror attack, stated on Thursday that he wants to become a part of the Indian Army to combat Pakistani terrorists. Tanuj's father, Prashant Satpathy, was one of the 26 people killed in the attack on April 22 in Jammu and Kashmir.
Talking from his house in Balasore district, Odisha, Tanuj revealed that if he was able to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi, he would request him to make a promise so that no child ever has to go through the agony of losing a father like him. "I have chosen to become an Army personnel as it has taken revenge for my father's death," Tanuj testified, beside his mother, Priya Darshini Achariya.
Tanuj said that he and his mother had been watching the news since Wednesday morning and were very proud and satisfied with the actions of the military. "We are proud of our Army," he said, speaking about Operation Sindoor, the military operation that targeted terror targets in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir and Pakistan.
The young lad also added that the Indian Army had stood with him and his mother during this ordeal. "Finally, they got their revenge. So, I will definitely join the Army. I will work hard to study so that I can secure a spot in the force and take on Pakistan and its terrorists," Tanuj said.
Tanuj also expressed his desire to meet PM Modi. "If I am provided with a chance to meet PM Modi, I will ask him to make sure that no boy like me becomes a fatherless one. I have realized the importance of a father in a son's life. I will also ask PM Modi to provide enough security in areas like Pahalgam and not give terrorists space on Indian soil," he asserted.
Recalling the gory incidents in Pahalgam, Tanuj described how the terrorists fired at his father as he was coming down from a hill. "He fell down right away. My maa and I ran towards him, and discovered he was bleeding from his head. When my maa asked him if he needed water, he replied, yes. I gave him water," he recalled.
When asked whether the terrorists had interrogated his father before murdering him, Tanuj responded, "No, but I have seen them questioning others regarding their religion."
Tanuj also put across the emotional load he bore following the accident. "No one from our family was present when tragedy befell us. My maa could not comfort me. She was totally devastated, and I was her only support," he explained.
Tanuj's mother, Priya Darshini, was ready to encourage her son's desire. "If he wishes to join the forces, I will train him accordingly. He needs the blessings of Indian people," she said. But she also raised concerns regarding her son's "sudden maturity." "I am concerned because he seems to have lost his childhood abruptly. He should mature gradually and not abruptly. I hope God blesses him," she said.
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