A BRAVEHEART REMEMBERED

 

 

 

SRINAGAR: In a solemn and poignant ceremony held at the Badami Bagh Cantonment, office bearers of the Public Relations Office of Ministry of Defence and select media persons paid floral tributes to the memory of Major P Purushottam and his comrades who attained martyrdom in a fidayeen attack on this day in 1999, twelve years ago.
Major Purushottam, who was posted as Public Relations Officer (PRO) very bravely fought militants who had launched a fidayeen attack on his office in the evening hours of November 03, 1999.  Having been engaged in a hand to hand fight, he and his colleagues laid down their lives while trying to save media persons, who finally escaped without a scratch. 

‘He was a very brave and compassionate person. I have heard a lot about him from the media friends in Srinagar.  Just a few months before his martyrdom, he had orchestrated the media coverage of the Kargil War-India’s first media war’, Defence Spokesperson based in Srinagar, Lt Col JS Brar said. 

With moist eyes, Mr S Tariq, Senior Cameraperson of NDTV, who was one of the survivors, remembered that day in vivid detail.  ‘We were sitting in his office when suddenly there was gunfire outside.  Anticipating trouble, he pushed us into the bathroom and despite being unarmed, engaged those persons in a hand to hand fight.  He and his staff sustained gun shots in the process and succumbed to their injuries.  I still shiver at the thought of that evening and grieve for his beautiful daughter’, he said. 

On the occasion wreaths were laid on behalf of Mr Sitanshu Kar, Additional Director General (Media and Communication), Ministry of Defence and media fraternity at the office memorial in the Public Relations Office.