AHMEDABAD: The family of the late Captain Nilesh Soni received soil from
Chandan Post
on the Siachen glacier on Tuesday – the young captain’s 59th birth anniversary – as an invaluable gift from the
Indian Army. Captain Soni laid down his life during Operation Meghdoot in 1987, while thwarting an attack by Pakistan forces.
Jagdish Soni, his elder brother and a resident of Paldi, said that they had written to the Army a month ago asking if they could get soil from the post in remembrance of the officer. “We were pleasantly surprised that the Army worked swiftly and granted our wish,” he said. “For a martyr’s family, it is the biggest honour for us as nothing could be more valuable than the matrubhoomi where he laid down his life. I am sure it will inspire generations to serve the nation.” Along with the soil from Chandan Post, the family also received a memento from Commanding Officer Siachen 102 Brigade, a memento from the director general of the
Artillery Regiment
, a memento from the 313
Field Regiment
, and a personal letter from the GOC Leh. “It was so thoughtful of the force to also gift us an empty artillery shell, in recognition of the fact that Nilesh served in an artillery regiment,” said Soni.
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