Grief engulfed Nathmalpur village in Bihar’s Bhojpur as news broke of local hero Hare Ram Kunwar’s martyrdom in a horrific crash in Jammu and Kashmir. Deployed in Doda district, the jawan’s bulletproof vehicle lost control on Khanni Top, tumbling 200 feet and claiming 10 lives during a high-stakes operation.
Just hours earlier, Hare Ram had called his mother Shanti Devi, urging her to bundle up against the winter chill and inquiring about his young children. His brother Jay Prakash Kunwar, a primary school teacher, wept openly while narrating the poignant exchange. The soldier, who joined Bihar Regiment in 2009 after a solid academic run, had married Khushboo Devi in 2014 and was the family’s beacon of hope.
Twin sister Rinki Devi was overcome with despair, and the two boys—Priyanshu (8) and Piyush (5)—played innocently amid the heavy atmosphere. Hare Ram’s vision for them was clear: top education in Banaras to become professionals in medicine and engineering. His last visit home was for a nephew’s wedding, filled with laughter. As his body is brought back, the community rallies in tribute, ensuring his legacy endures.