Mumbai: Mumbaikars mourned the death of a young army soldier Murali Naik (23), who attained martyrdom in Jammu during a Pakistani drone strike. Naik was a resident of Ghatkopar’s Kamraj Nagar and was deputed in Jammu for duty.
The tensions between India and Pakistan have escalated in the last two days after the former launched Operation Sindoor against the latter to avenge the terrorist attack in Kashmir’s Pahalgam which killed 26 civilians. One of the drone attacks by Pakistan in Uri near Jammu also claimed the life of Naik, leaving the people of Ghatkopar in a great shock.
Originally from Kafidanda village in Andhra Pradesh, Naik had been living in Mumbai for a very long time with his parents. He joined the Indian Army as an Agniveer in 2002, after which his parents also shifted to their native village, revealed a resident of Kamraj Nagar.
The news of Naik’s ultimate sacrifice shook the residents of Kamraj Nagar who recall their acquaintance with him during his early days. On Friday evening, the residents of Kamraj Nagar organised a prayer meeting for him after the young soldier attained martyrdom in Pakistan’s drone attack near Uri. Over 100 people from the locality joined outside Kamraj Nagar police chowky on the Eastern Express Highway to mourn the loss of the young soldier.
Ghatkopar Mourns 23-Year-Old Army Jawan Murali Naik, Martyred in Pakistani Drone Strike Along LoC | File Photo
Talking to The Free Press Journal, Kunal Devendra, a local resident who organised the prayer meeting, said, “We had very close relations with Murali and his parents as they lived in the locality for many years. We are shocked to know that such a young soldier lost his life due to Pakistan’s drone attack but we are proud of him that he laid his life while protecting the motherland.”
Andhra Pradesh chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu expressed his condolences on social media platform X. He said, "It is saddening to hear of the loss of life of a soldier named Murali Nayak from Sri Sathya Sai district in the defence of the country. Tributes to the martyr Murali Nayak, who laid down his life for the country. I express my deepest condolences to his family members."
Local organisations and political leaders have also paid tribute to the fallen soldier. Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) Ghatkopar also honoured the martyr in a post on X, while other politicians also expressed their condolences and prayed for strength for the martyr’s family.
