While his father, Captain Harpal Singh (retired), now an estate officer with the Punjab School Education Board, kept his calm and said he was proud of his son, his wife and mother lost consciousness.

Harminder's body arrived via Srinagar from Suderkotwala, 10 km from Nanasbal in North Kashmir, where he was killed last evening while engaging militants in a counter-insurgency mission. The major received word about some militant movement in a built-up area nearby and led a patrol party there.

An encounter followed in which Harminder first took a bullet in his arm and then on the right side of his temple. He died instantly. But before falling, he had used his weapon to eliminate two militants.

The family in Mundi Kharar first heard about theincident late in the evening when they were playing with Harminder's three-month-old son, Navteshvar.

The major's father recalled, with fortitude and calm, how fond his son was of adventure sports, trekking, hockey, soccer and body-building and won prizes at the State and district levels from time to time.

Harminder was an alumnus of the Government College, SAS Nagar, and Khalsa Senior Secondary School, Kharar. He was commissioned in March 1992 and promoted recently. He had qualified for a pilot's job with the air force, but had decided against it. Harminder married Rupinder Pal Kaur from Ganganagar only 18 months ago.

Harminder was recommended for decoration twice and received letters of appreciation from his core commander, who had also forwarded his name for the army chief's commendation certificate.