DHARAMSHALA: Baby cries generally bring celebrations to families and cheer everyone, but these cries remained the most painful thing on Friday at the residence of Tilak Raj who attained martyrdom during the Pulwama terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir on Thursday. Raj was a resident of Jawali area of Kangra district in Himachal Pradesh Raj, who became a father a few days back, has left a newborn behind him, who is just 22 days old and is yet to be named. Cries of the newborn added to the grief of mourning gathering.The martyr had gone to join his duty on February 11 this month after his wife was discharged from a nearby government hospital where she gave birth to a handsome baby boy.After bringing his wife Savitri Devi and the infant home, the martyr had left to serve the nation. The elder son of the martyr is just three years old, who is unable to understand what has happened to his father. He was seen playing in the lap of family members, looking at every visitor’s face.The family was not informed about Raj's martyrdom on Thursday. It was only during the morning hours when relatives started reaching his house that family members came to know about the same.The younger brother of the martyr, who works as a salesman in Punjab, was informed by the villagers late night, suggesting him not to inform the family about the same.Mother Bimla Devi and wife fell unconscious after hearing the news.The wife of Raj is currently bedridden as doctors have advised her bed rest after delivery of the baby boy, while the health of martyr’s father Layk Ram also deteriorated.Sandeep Kumar, deputy commissioner at Kangra, told TOI that the body would reach Pathankot base by late evening and they would be moving from there to the native village of the martyr on Saturday morning.Cabinet minister Kishan Kapoor and local MLA Arjun Singh had reached the martyr’s residence and assured the family about a government job. A cheque of Rs 5 lakh was handed over the family too.

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