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Hyderabad, January' 2009: Hyderabad's Col Jojan
Thomas has been honoured with Ashok Chakra. President Pratibha Patil presented the
medals to Mrs. Beena Thomas wife of late Col Jojan Thomas during
the 60th Republic Day parade on January 26th 2009. Ashok Chakra is the country's
highest peace-time gallantry medal. Apart from Col Jojan Thomas ,10 other
security personnel have been honoured with Ashok Chakra this year at the
Republic day celebrations in New Delhi.
Colonel Jojan Thomas died in an encounter with militants in Kupwara
in Jammu and Kashmir in August'2008.
During early hours of August 22, Col Thomas received information
about movement of terrorists in the Kupwara area in Jammu and
Kashmir. He immediately started a search operation. At about 7
am, Col Thomas and his quick reaction team came in contact with
a group of terrorists.
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In the ensuing gun fight, he brought down two
terrorists. Col Thomas also sustained gunshot wounds during the
encounter.
Despite injury, Col Thomas continued the
search and again found the terrorists. Two more terrorists were
killed in the
ambush. However, Col Thomas, too, suffered fatal injuries in the
fresh round of fire. He later succumbed to his injuries. His
team shot down six militants and he was one of the four Indian
soldiers who were killed in the battle.
Col Thomas was commissioned in 11 Jat Regiment in 1986 from
the Officers’ Training Academy, Chennai. The officer, besides
holding prestigious staff appointments as GSO-1 (Ops) 3 Corps
and instructor FTM, ASC Centre & College Bangalore, was
also an experienced pilot.
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He is the highest ranking Army officer to be killed in counter
insurgency operations offlate in Kashmir.
45-year-old Col. Thomas was the eldest of four sons. His father Capt
P.A. Thomas, who served in the Indian Army passed away recently in Hyderabad.His wife, Beena, and two children live in
Bangalore while his mother stays in Hyderabad at Yapral.The slain army
officer’s daughter is undergoing pilot training and his son is studying
in class VI.
With the valiant death of Col Jojan Thomas,
India lost another of its brave sons in the frontline of war
against terrorism. Bright officer, brave soldier, and a role
model leading from the front, Colonel Jojan Thomas will remain
an inspiration to many.
He died defending for the nation and Hyderabad can never forget
its brave soldier.
A Martyr never dies. We salute his supreme
sacrifice. |
-Maju Kuriakose
Reachout's News Bureau
January' 2009
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