Born on April, 1951 at Palanwalla in Jammu, Col Balbir Singh had been living in Kalakote tehsil, Rajouri district. He had moved up from the ranks, having joined the Army as a jawan he had risen to be a Colonel, his relatives said.

``He was an inspiration and a counselor to us. A workaholic, he always sought challenges'', said Alok Sharma, a neighbour. His relatives and the residents of Rajouri, Pallanwala and Akhnoor have demanded the main Akhnoor chowk be named after the officer. ``He was the pride of the area and one of the few senior Army officers killed in counter-insurgency operations in the Valley. This would serve to perpetuate the memory of thebrave soldier,'' said Nasib Singh, the Col's nephew.

People were angry at the absence of any senior state government functionary and minister at the Air Force Station. ``They can go everywhere but not pay homage to martyrs,'' remarked an angry relative.

Lt Gen ARK Reddy, Chief of Staff, Northern Command, Major General T S Pathak, Brigadier I P Singh, Deputy GOC, Tiger Division, R V Raju, IG Jammu, M A Anjum, SSP Jammu and Rohit Kansal, ADC, Jammu were present to pay their tributes. Wreaths were laid on behalf of the Chief of Army Staff, GOC-in-C Northern Command, GOC 16 Corps and GOC Tiger Division.

Colonel Singh is survived by his father, wife, son, daughter and son-in-law.