Jammu: A Junior Commissioned Officer (JCO) of the Indian Army, Subedar Kuldeep Chand of 9 Punjab, was killed in action while leading a counter-infiltration operation along the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir’s Rajouri district, the Army said Saturday.
Subedar Chand laid down his life during a gunfight with infiltrators in the Keri-Battal area of Sunderbani on the night of April 11.
In a post on X, the Indian Army’s White Knight Corps paid tribute to the fallen soldier.
“General Officer Commanding (GOC), White Knight Corps and all ranks salute the supreme sacrifice of braveheart Sub Kuldeep Chand of 9 PUNJAB. He laid down his life while gallantly leading a counter-infiltration operation along the Line of Control (LoC) in the Keri-Battal area of Sunderbani on the night of 11 Apr 2025,” the Corps wrote.
“His team’s valour and Sub Kuldeep’s ultimate sacrifice foiled an infiltration attempt by terrorists. We stand in solidarity with the bereaved family in this hour of grief,” the post added.
The incident comes amid heightened counter-terror operations across the region.
In a separate ongoing operation named Operation Chhatru in Kishtwar, two Pakistani terrorists were neutralized, according to Army sources. The encounter has been underway for four days, and three terrorists have been killed so far.
Earlier this week, security forces intensified cordon and search operations in the Panjtirthi area of Kathua following an exchange of fire with terrorists. The operation, led jointly by the Indian Army, Jammu and Kashmir Police, and the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), was based on specific intelligence inputs. Multiple ambushes and surveillance setups were deployed in the area.
The region remains on high alert as security forces continue their hunt for additional threats.
In another counter-terror operation named Operation Safiyan in the Kathua region, four Jammu and Kashmir Police personnel were killed, and two terrorists were eliminated. The operation, which began on March 23, was launched after locals reported the movement of suspected Pakistani infiltrators in Sanyal village. War-like stores were recovered from the site.
The recent uptick in infiltration attempts and terrorist activities has prompted a robust response from security forces, who remain deployed across the LoC and hinterland to prevent cross-border incursions.
