Like Father, Like Son: Late Gunner Astosh Kumar’s Father Was Martyred During Kargil War

In the counter-insurgency operations that took place days ago in Bandipora and Kupwara districts of Kashmir, four army soldiers, including an officer, lost their lives. One of the four martyrs was Gunner Astosh Kumar, and his story is special.

Kumar, who hailed from Jaunpur in Uttar Pradesh, had seen ultimate sacrifice from close quarters and knew what it means to lose one’s life for the country. His father, Havildar Lal Sahib, had laid down his life during the Kargil War in 1999. At the time, Kumar was all but seven years old, as reported by Indiatimes, but he had felt enough to know that he wished to join the army. And join he did – at the young age of 19.

The operation in which Kumar lost his life, led to the deaths of four militants including a top Lashkar-e-Taiba commander. Kumar is now survived by his mother Sheila Devi.