Soldier from Kodagu injured in firing, recovering

Madikeri: A soldier from Kodagu was fired at and injured during an anti-terrorist operation is now recovering at the army hospital, Chandigarh.

H N Mahesh from Ponnampet in Kodagu district, belonging to the 44^th Rashtriya Rifles contingent of the Indian Army was wounded during an anti-terrorist operation on May 29, but the incident came to the fore with delay.

Mahesh called his parents on June 6 and informed them that although he was was injured in the firing, he is presently recuperating. Mahesh is a recipient of gallantry award, Shaurya Chakra.

Son of Nagaraj and Laxmi couple from Gandhinagar, Ponnampet, Mahesh joined the Army Engineering Corps seven years back. He was later shifted to 44^th Rashtriya Riles functioning at Jammu and Kashmir.

The operation and injury

On May 29, 60 soldiers of the 44^th Rashtriya Rifles surrounded a house in Shopian district of Jammu and Kashmir after getting to know that four terrorists were holed up there. Although the soldiers asked the terrorists to surrender, the terrorists instead opened fire and a stray bullet hit Mahesh in his face during the operation.

Later, the soldiers engineered a blast which destroyed the entire house along with the four terrorists.