Army Officer, A Sena Medal Awardee, Dies After Being In a Coma For 8 Years

Lt Colonel Karanbir Singh Natt from the Territorial Army (TA), who had been in a coma for the last eight years, died on Saturday in a Military Hospital in Jalandhar.

A Sena medal recipient, Lt Colonel Natt was seriously injured after being hit by bullet in the face in an encounter with terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kupwara district in 2015.

Brigadier BS Dhillon (retired), Director Sainik Welfare, Punjab, confirmed the unfortunate news of Lt Col Natt’s demise.

Lt Colonel KS Natt was commissioned in 19 GUARDS (Gurdaspur) as Short Service officer in September 1998. Later, in May 2013, he joined the Territorial Army and was posted with 160 Infantry Battalion TA (H&H) Jammu and Kashmir Rifles.

In November 2015, during Operation Santosh Manigah, Lt Col Natt and his team approached the Dhok to commence search operation. Right at the time, they came under effective fire from a terrorist in hiding.

The operation was launched by the 41 Rashtriya Rifles under the commandment of Colonel Santosh Mahadik. He led the operation from the front and died in the battle after being severely injured.

Lt Col Natt, in an attempt to save his friend from danger, took a bullet hit to his jaw. He was hit by a Kalashnikov bullet, an NDTV report said. He, however, continued fighting and firing at a close range till the terrorist was neutralised.

The injury to his face led to him being in a coma state. He was admitted to the Jalandhar Military Hospital for treatment and posted to the 112 Infantry Battalion TA.

During Republic Day in 2016, Lt Col Natt was awarded Sena Medal (Gallantry) for his display of exceptional leadership and courage while under extreme duress.