Chennai loses its brave son fighting in Kashmir

Chennai: “After eliminating these three militants, I will have no job. I can even put in my papers.” These were the last few words spoken by Major Mukund Varadarajan (31), who was killed in a militant operation at Sheikh Patri village in Shopian district in south Kashmir on Friday night.  

Hailing from Chennai and an alumnus of Officers Training Academy,  Mukund was one of the Army officers, who joined the operations around noon on Friday.

“Among the three militants killed, two were notorious activists followed closely by Mukund for the last one year,” said an officer, who was a witness to the operation.

Mukund is survived by his parents, two sisters, wife and a young daughter. After post-mortem in Srinagar Military hospital, his body is expected to reach Chennai on Sunday night. Sources in the ATNK&K Area headquarters in Chennai said that a military funeral had been planned for the brave officer on Monday.  

Speaking to Deccan Chronicle, Mukund’s father Raghavachari Varadarajan, a retired IOB officer, said that Mukund lived his dream to serve the armed forces. 

“My father did not allow me to join the Indian Air Force. But I encouraged Mukund to join the armed  forces,” he added.