Wife of jawan killed in J&K joins Army

Sangeeta Mall’s husband, Shishir, was killed while battling terrorists in September 2015. She worked as a teacher before marrying Shishir

Dehradun:

In an inspirational story, Sangeeta Mall, the wife of a Rifleman who was killed in action in Jammu & Kashmir while battling terrorists, was commissioned into the Indian Army after passing out from the Officers Training Academy (OTA) in Chennai on Saturday.


Sangeeta worked as a teacher before marrying Shishir Mall in 2013. Shishir, who was part of Gorkha Rifles, was serving in the Baramulla sector of J&K when he was killed while battling terrorists in September 2015. After his death, Sangeeta quit her teaching job to be by her motherin-law’s side.

Speaking about her journey, Sangeeta’s brother-in-law Sushant Mall said, “Our family had to face several challenges but now, it is a matter of pride for us that she has become a commissioned officer. We are planning a grand welcome for her once she returns home.”

Not only did Sangeeta have to deal with the tragedy of her husband’s death but she also suffered a miscarriage. A few months before Shishir’s death, her fatherin-law Suresh Bahadur Mall, also an ex-serviceman, had passed away too. “My mother supported her and encouraged her to study further and do a banking job,” said Sushant.

He said Sangeeta became motivated to join the army after she attended an investiture ceremony in Ranikhet in 2016 where Shishir was awarded Sena Medal posthumously. “She worked hard and cleared the OTA examination,” he added. After a rigorous training at the academy, Sangeeta was commissioned in the army as a Lieutenant in the short service commission. She is expected to come home to Dehradun soon before joining her commission.