Jalandhar bid farewell to a true hero as Lieutenant Colonel Karanbir Singh Natt, Sena Medal, who fought valiantly against terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kupwara in 2015 and remained in a coma for eight years, was cremated with full military honors on Tuesday.
Lt Col Natt, who battled his injuries sustained while fighting terrorists, passed away on December 23 at Military Hospital Jalandhar after an unwavering struggle since November 2015.
The poignant moment when the funeral pyre was lit belonged to his eldest daughter, Guneet, a student at Delhi University. The solemn event also saw Lt Col Natt’s sister, who traveled from the US, paying her last respects.
Survived by his wife Navpreet Kaur and daughters, Guneet and Ashmeet, the farewell ceremony drew dignitaries including a Brigadier from HQs 11 Corps in Jalandhar, who laid a wreath on behalf of the Corps HQs. Numerous serving and retired Army officers honored the occasion with their presence.
Lt Col Natt, as the second-in-command (2IC) of the 160 Territorial Army Battalion (JAK Rifles), led a crucial combing operation against terrorists in Haji Naka village, Kupwara district, near the Line of Control on November 25, 2015. Tragically, he sustained grievous injuries, particularly to his lower jaw, when a terrorist opened fire from a hut in the village.
His life hung in the balance as doctors in the Military Hospital in Srinagar and later in the Army Research and Referral Hospital, New Delhi, performed frantic surgeries to save him.
Originally commissioned as a Short Service Commission officer in The Brigade of Guards in 1998, Lt Col Natt dedicated 14 years to the regiment before being relieved from service in 2012. Post his service as a Short Service Commission officer, he joined the Territorial Army.
Hailing from Dhadiala Natt village near Batala, Lt Col Natt’s unwavering courage and sacrifice for the nation’s safety remain an indelible part of his legacy.
