Dharamshala: Cries of constable Tilak Raj’s newborn baby and bed-ridden wife Savitri Devi were the most unbearable sounds on Friday at his residence in Dehwa village in Jawali area of Himachal Pradesh’s Kangra district.Thirty-one-year-old Tilak, posted with the CRPF’s 76 battalion, had became father of a second son 22 days ago. The newborn is yet to be named as the ceremony had been planned for later. He had left home to rejoin duty on February 11 after his wife was discharged from nearby government hospital after the delivery. Tilak, who belonged to a shepherd family, is survived by his elderly parents, wife and two sons.Tilak’s older son is just three years old and was seen playing in laps of the visitors. He is unable to understand why so many people were thronging his home. The family was not informed about Tilak’s death on Thursday as his wife is bed-ridden after delivery and his father Layk Ram’s health has also deteriorated.Tilak’s younger brother Baldev, who works as a salesman in Punjab, was informed by villagers late on night about his brother’s death and advised not to inform his family till he arrived home. It was only in morning when relatives started reaching their home that Tilak’s family members came to know about his death. His mother Bimla Devi and wife both could not bear the shock and fainted after relatives and villagers gathered at their house.The martyr was quite famous locally as he had uploaded videos, most shot in Kangra’s Boh valley, showing him singing folk songs under the name of Tilak Raj Shanu. Five of his songs were famous among the locals.Tilak’s brother demanded the Centre should first nab people in Kashmir who supply information to militants. “Pakistan is a secondary target, but nab the people who supplied the information about the movement of the convoy to the militants,” demanded Baldev.Kangra deputy commissioner Sandeep Kumar told TOI that Tilak’s body will reach Pathankot base by late evening on Friday and would reach his native village on Saturday morning.Himachal Pradesh cabinet minister Kishan Kapoor and local MLA Arjun Singh reached the martyr’s residence on Friday and assured the family that a member would be provided a government job. They also handed over a cheque of Rs 5 lakh to the family.

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