Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar today visited the family of two of the seven soldiers who were killed in th Pakistani terrorist attack at the air base here as he announced that they would be entitled to all benefits available to "battle casualty".
Parrikar met the families of Fateh Singh and Kulwant Singh of the Defence Security Corps (DSC), based in Gurdaspur.
Earlier in the day, Parrikar announced that all the seven security personnel killed during the attack will be treated as martyrs that will entitle them to all benefits available to "battle casualty" like in war-like situation.
Defence sources said that this means that the kin of the personnel will get the maximum benefits which will include enhanced ex-gratia, pension, tax benefits, central grant among others.
Seven security personnel - five of DSC, an NSG commando and one of Garud - were killed in the attack on IAF base in Pathankot while six terrorists were eliminated in a four-day long operation. Combing operations are still on and may continue for a day or two.
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Parikkar, flanked by the Chiefs of Army and Air Force, met the family and expressed his condolences.
Speaking to reporters after meeting the family of Fateh Singh, a former Commonwealth champion shooter, Parrikar said "the country was before his own life. He had given a priority to it."
Singh was the big bore rifle (300m) shooter-turned-coach and had won gold and silver medals in the first Commonwealth Shooting Championships in New Delhi in 1995.
He retired as a Subedar Major from the Dogra regiment in 2009 and joined the Defence Service Corps (DSC). He was initially posted at the Army War College in Mhow.
The National Rifle Association of India (NRAI) president Raninder Singh while condoling the death of Singh said the country has lost its beloved son and a sharp shooter.
