Lieutenant of Sikkim Scouts jumped into the river to save Agniveer, swept away by the strong current of water; body found 800 meters away
Lieutenant Shashank Tiwari of Sikkim Scouts in Sikkim gave his life to save an Agniveer. On May 22, while leading a route opening patrol, Agniveer Stephen Subba was swept away in the river. Lieutenant Shashank jumped to save him but was himself swept away by the strong current.
Sikkim Scouts' Lieutenant Shashank Tiwari laid his life while rescuing an Agniveer during a Sikkim military operation. The incident occurred at about 11 am on May 22. Lieutenant Shashank Tiwari laid down his life while saving the life of his companion soldier.
23-year-old Lieutenant Shashank hadn't even completed six months in the army before being commissioned. The army released a statement announcing that Lieutenant Shashank commanded a route-opening patrol team. This patrolling team consisted of five people and headed towards an operating outpost. It was being readied for future army deployment.
Agniveer Stephen Subba, a member of the patrol team, slipped while crossing a wooden bridge and was swept away in a fast-flowing mountain river. Lieutenant Shashank jumped into the water to save Agniveer. Another soldier in the team, Naik Pukur Kateel, also immediately helped him. Both of them together saved the drowning Agniveer.
But in this attempt, Lieutenant Shashank was swept away in the strong current of water. About half an hour later, his body was recovered from the river 800 meters away from the spot. He was a resident of Ayodhya in Uttar Pradesh. Sikkim Police officer Kumar Gurung has said that the body of the martyred officer has been taken to the Army Hospital in Bagdogra by the Air Force.
The police have completed the investigation of the incident. Statements of eyewitnesses have been recorded. The investigation has not confirmed any conspiracy or criminal incident.
