As news of Major Akash Singh’s death in a gunbattle with militants spread, grief filled his home at Shiv Nagar in Jammu. Relatives, neighbours and friends descended upon his home to console the family of the soldier, whom they knew as a jovial and friendly person.

Major Singh was killed early on Wednesday in an encounter with infiltrators at Sunegali, about 5 km south of Mendhar in Poonch district. Two militants were also killed in the gunbattle. Army said a search was on to hunt down infiltrators who might have escaped the gunbattle.

Major Singh, 34, was the youngest of five sons-he was also a twin-of Shankar Singh, who retired as J&K's Deputy Registrar for Cooperatives.

His eldest brother Rajeshwar Singh is also with Cooperatives, J&K, second brother Jagdev Singh is a doctor and another brother Ajay Singh is a Central government employee. His twin Vikas Singh is a hotel manager in Jammu.

Major Singh is survived by wife Deepti, three and a half year old daughter Khushi and two year old son Tejaswi.

An alumini of OTA Chennai, Singh was commissioned into 5 Maratha Light Infantry on September 4, 1999 and served the Army for 10 years, fighting insurgency in J&K and the Northeast.

"My son was always ready for the call of duty. He used to often say that if need be he would sacrifice for the sake of the country," recalls his father Shankar Singh. "He has made me proud by his sacrifice."