Jammu, June 20 : Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Wednesday visited the family of rifleman Aurangzeb who was abducted and killed by militants in Jammu and Kashmir on June 15.

Sitharaman arrived here earlier in the day and flew to the Mendhar area of Rajouri district where she met the bereaved family.

"I have come to spend some time with the family of the martyr and the message I am carrying back is that the martyred soldier stands out as an inspiration for the entire country," the Minister told mediapersons here.

The slain soldier's father has also served in the Army. Army chief General Bipin Rawat also visited the family on Monday. Aurangzeb was brutally killed in Pulwama district in the Kashmir Valley.

He was on way to join his family on the occasion of Eid when the militants intercepted the private vehicle in which the soldier was travelling to Shopian town, from where he would take another vehicle for Poonch.

A video released by the militant group that abducted Aurangzeb showed him bravely acknowledging that he was a soldier of the Indian Army and had participated in anti-militancy operations in south Kashmir.

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Mumbai (PTI): Royal Challengers Bengaluru skipper Rajat Patidar, Phil Salt and Virat Kohli blasted half-centuries as the defending champions beat Mumbai Indians by 18 runs in an Indian Premier League match here on Sunday.

Salt (78 off 36 balls) and Kohli (50 off 38 balls) stitched together a 120-run stand for the opening wicket before Patidar scored a rapid 53 off just 20 balls as RCB posted 240 for 4.

In response, Mumbai Indians were restricted to 222 for 5, with RCB spinner Suyash Sharma (2/47) putting the skids on the home side with a double strike in the eighth over, from which they could not recover.

Sherfane Rutherford top-scored for MI with an unbeaten 71 off 31 balls.

While opener Rohit Sharma appeared to be struggling with a hamstring issue and had to retire hurt on 19, his partner Ryan Rickelton made 37, while Suryakumar Yadav (33) and Hardik Pandya (40) were the other contributors for MI.

Brief scores:

Royal Challengers Bengaluru 240 for 4 in 20 overs (Phil Salt 78, Virat Kohli 50, Rajat Patidar 53, Tim David 35 not out).

Mumbai Indians: 222 for 5 in 20 overs (Sherfane Rutherford 71 not out, Ryan Rickelton 37, Hardik Pandya 40; Suyash Sharma 2/47).