New Delhi, May 10 -- Murali Naik, from Andhra Pradesh who laid down his life during the cross-border shelling in Jammu and Kashmir's Poonch, on Friday, had joined the armed forces against his father's wish. Naik, 23, wanted to serve the nation by donning the army uniform.

"Murali's aim was to serve the country. He joined the army despite my opposition. He just wanted to wear the army uniform for at least a year," Shriram Naik, Murali's father told reporters at his residence in Kamraj Nagar locality in Mumbai's Ghatkopar. He said Murali had undergone military training at Deolali in Nashik and was his only son.

Murali, who was selected in the army as an Agniveer in 2022, died in the line of duty in the early hours of Friday in Poonch, Jam...