Odlaguri, (Bongaigaon), Aug. 6: This sleepy village, nearly 45km from Bongaigaon town, was in a state of disbelief after news broke out yesterday that their armyman son Mohan Boro, 35, had died in an exchange of fire between two groups in Kashmir.

Sitting on a plastic chair was Mohan's mother, Saite, 74, who was agonisingly waiting for the confirmation that came later in the day, when her son's body was brought to his native village.

Police sources said Mohan was reportedly killed in an encounter in Kashmir. Till late afternoon though, none, including the local police, could answer her queries. #"My son had joined the army for the sake of the country, I have lost my son. How can I be compensated by the government? Let me see the face of my son one last time, my heart is weeping," said Saite, a widow. Mohan was posted in Jammu as a jawan of the army's Assam Regiment.

#Mohan had joined the regiment 18 years ago in Shillong, Meghalaya and had married 12 years ago in Shillong. His wife, Rumi, 29, and their 11-year-old daughter, Karishma, still reside at Bishnupur in Shillong with her parents.

"Mohan told me in the evening of August 4 over phone that he would come within a week, immediately after his leave was sanctioned," said Rumi, her voice breaking. "Next day, on August 5, after getting the message of his death from my in-laws, I rushed to Odlaguri along with my daughter and mother," she said.

Mohan, who was the sixth among eight siblings, had visited his home in November last year. "He even bought some bricks and timber for building a house on his plot of land, which he had purchased three years ago. The plot is a few meters away from his home," said Tilok, a retired army personnel and Mohan's elder brother.

Mohan's youngest brother, Koren, is a CRPF jawan currently serving in Uttarakhand.

"My father asked me about my well-being around four days ago and told me he would come soon," said Karishma, a Class VII student at Lady Keane Higher Secondary School in Shillong.

"Nothing, except my daughter, is left in my life. I am alone in this world now. But I want a secure future for my daughter and need support to live my life as a single parent," Rumi said.

A majority of the youths of Odlaguri are still serving in the defence forces. Agriculture is the only source of livelihood for many families in the village.