West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee Thursday offered her condolences to the family of Colonel M.N. Rai who was killed in a gun battle with guerrillas in south Kashmir's Pulwama district Tuesday.
"A tweet will not wipe away tears. My condolences to family of Colonel Rai. Salutes to all martyrs who laid down their lives for India," Banerjee said on Twitter.
Colonel Rai, 39, had been awarded the Yudh Seva Medal for gallantry on this year's Republic Day. His last rites were performed in the national capital Thursday.
Head Constable Sanjeevan Singh of the Jammu and Kashmir Police also died in Tuesday's gunfight in which two guerrillas of Hizbul Mujahideen outfit were killed.
