Niren Roy, 68, was clueless when he received a phone call from an unknown number on Tuesday night. The caller introduced himself as someone from the army and asked Niren to hand over the phone to any other family member.

The father of army havildar Bipul Roy started trembling as he sensed something was wrong.

“I received the phone call around 9.30pm. The caller, after learning my identity, said he was from the Indian army and asked me to hand over the phone to somebody else. I handed it over to Bipul’s aunt… I was anxious as she spoke to the caller in front of me. Soon, he divulged the news to her,” said Niren, a resident of Bindiapara in Alipurduar 2 block.

His 34-year-old son was among the Indian soldiers killed in the clash with the Chinese army at Galwan Valley in Ladakh on Monday night.

Bipul’s mother, Kusumbala Devi, was not immediately told about the death. She came to know about the news when friends, neighbours and relatives started visiting her home on Wednesday morning.

“He had always dreamed of serving the nation as a member of the defence forces. After passing the higher secondary exam in 2003, he joined the army. We are proud of him,” said Niren, a farmer.

Bipul had been posted at Meerut in Uttar Pradesh. Two years ago, he took his wife Rumpa and their seven-year-old daughter Tamanna to Meerut. It was about a month ago that he was shifted to Ladakh.

“His wife and daughter are still in Meerut,” said a neighbour.

Bipul has a sister who is married. His brother Bakul works at a construction firm in Bhutan. “We informed Bakul and he has left for home,” the neighbour said.

The soldier had visited Bindipara for the last time in December.

Uttam Das, a schoolteacher who stays at Kamakhyaguri in Alipurduar, said he had fond memories of his childhood friend Bipul.

“We had been batch mates since childhood. After higher secondary exams, we had been to Siliguri to appear for an interview conducted by the army. I could not clear it but Bipul succeeded. We used to spend some time together whenever he would visit his family. He was otherwise a soft-spoken youth but I am confident that he proved his valour before laying down his life,” said Uttam.

Sources said Bipul’s mortal remains would reach Meerut via Delhi. His wife and daughter will board a special flight carrying the body that will land at the Bagdogra airport on Thursday. From Bagdogra, his body will be taken to his native village on a chopper.