Photos of Army personnel generally evoke a sense of awe and respect but this photo has been grabbing eyeballs for a different reason! It brings out another feature of our proud soldiers’ emotional makeup and that is compassion and the sense of grief they share with the relatives of deceased soldiers.

The photo taken during the funeral of Lance Naik Nazir Ahmad Wani and released by Army’s ADG Public Information shows an officer consoling the distraught father of the brave soldier who had quit terrorism and joined the Territorial Army in 2004 after he surrendered. The photo released on Twitter says, “You are not alone.”

A serving #IndianArmy officer consoling father of Lance Naik Nazir Ahmad of 34 Rashtriya Rifles, who lost his life fighting terrorists in #Shopian in Kulgam district of J&K. #IndianArmy #SalutingtheBraveheart #Braveheart @PIB_India @SpokespersonMoD pic.twitter.com/k2Yklmf1Ev

— ADG PI – INDIAN ARMY (@adgpi) November 28, 2018

Here’s what Twitterati had to say:

No words needed…. condolences to the father of
the greatest son of the soil Lance Naik Nazir Ahmad pic.twitter.com/Z6KgF0VSrC

— Pramod Waikar (@pradwaikar) November 28, 2018

Indian Army officer consoling father of Lance Naik Nazir Ahmad of Kulgam in South Kashmir who sacrificed his life for the country while fighting terrorists recently. India salutes these sons of the soil in Kashmir who always put nation first. Prayers. 🇮🇳 pic.twitter.com/UWfYEWXcSO

— ajeet singh patel 🇮🇳 (@iAjeetSingh) November 28, 2018

No words can describe this picture.
Only the two men in it can feel the pain and the loss.
Brother Nazir, you’ll be remembered as as a hero.
May you find peace in God’s arms now.
Salute! https://t.co/80a29dljLq

— A 🇮🇳 (@MoiSherni) November 28, 2018

Painful and Heartbreaking. :((( Prayers and More! https://t.co/vtm2E4grja

— Abhijeet kar (@karabhijeet_kar) November 28, 2018

No words for this picture🙏 https://t.co/m0908I7BoX

— Juhi Soni (@juhisoni4) November 28, 2018

None of the member of defence personnel is alone. Entire nation is with them in all odd.

— Goverdhan Singh (@GoverdhanSinghS) November 28, 2018

May God give him strength to bear this loss.🙏

— Jatinder Chhauda (@JatinderChhauda) November 28, 2018

Such a poignant moment. Heartfelt salutes to Lance Naik Nazir Ahmad 🙏🇮🇳#IndianArmy #Braveheart

— Newton (@BhandarkarNitin) November 28, 2018

Rest in Peace Lance Naik Shri Nazir Ahmad Ji. Your selfless sacrifice for the country will never be forgotten. It is because of the brave soldiers like you we the citizens are safe and secure. Grand Salute to you. Jai Hind.🙏🇮🇳

— Vijay Kiran (@Vkiran2208) November 28, 2018

L/Nk Nazir Ahmad is said to have taken up arms against India initially, then joined the mainstream. As a part of the TA, he was already a decorated soldier awarded a Sena Medal (Gallantry). Now he leaves us as a Nation indebted. He is not just an idol 4 Kashmiris, but 4 all of us https://t.co/JRnf6CBprI

— Gautam Ramaswamy (@Capt_RamaswamyG) November 28, 2018

Wani, who had won the Sena Medal twice, in 2007 and again this year, was killed on Sunday as part of the 34 Rashtriya Rifles in an encounter in South Kashmir’s Shopian district in which six militants were also killed.
The body of the highly-decorated soldier, who is survived by his wife and two children, was laid to rest with full state honours and a 21-gun salute on Monday in Kulgam, his hometown.

General Bipin Rawat #COAS & all ranks salute supreme sacrifice of Lance Naik Nazir Ahmad Wani, SM* & offer sincere condolences to the family. #BraveSonsOfIndia @PIB_India @SpokespersonMoD @HQ_IDS_India pic.twitter.com/vYpYEwseOu

— ADG PI – INDIAN ARMY (@adgpi) November 26, 2018

Meanwhile, security forces gunned down seven militants in South Kashmir, in two separate encounters on Sunday. Those killed included two Pak militants and three alleged top militant commanders. The encounters were followed by protests in which one person was killed and 50 others were injured.