JAMMU: An army junior commissioned officer (JCO) was killed Saturday in repelling an infiltration attempt by Pakistani terrorists from across the LoC in Sunderbani of Jammu’s Akhnoor sector. Two more terrorists were gunned down in a separate, ongoing operation in Kishtwar where a gunman was shot dead on Friday.
The death of JCO Kuldeep Chand (46) came days after Indian army officials lodged strong protests against infiltration attempts, ceasefire violations, and IED blasts with their Pakistani counterparts at a Brigade Commander-Level flag meeting in Poonch. Chand was a native of Himachal Pradesh and is survived by his wife, two children and elderly parents.
Officials said Chand was part of troops from the Army’s 9 Punjab regiment manning a forward post along the LOC in Keri Battal area of Akhnoor’s Sunderbani. They noticed movement of a group of heavily armed terrorists near a seasonal rivulet late Friday night. They challenged the intruders, leading to a fierce gunfight that lasted a few hours during which the JCO was shot. He later succumbed to his injuries.
Army’s White Knight saluted the “supreme sacrifice of brave-heart” Chand. “He laid down his life while gallantly leading a counter-infiltration operation along the LoC,” White Knight posted.
J&K lieutenant governor Manoj Sinha also paid tributes. “His (Chand’s) valour and sacrifice will never be forgotten. The entire nation stands firmly with the family of the martyr in this hour of grief,” the LG said in a statement. Chand’s last rites will be performed on Sunday in Kohlvi, his native village in Himachal, officials said.
Sunderbani’s Keri Battal is where two army personnel, including a captain, were killed and another was injured when terrorists set off a blast on Feb 11 this year. In the same zone in Oct 2024, army troopers eliminated three terrorists holed up in a forest.
In the other operation in Kishtwar’s Chatroo forests that has been going on since April 9, official sources said the three terrorists killed since Friday were affiliated to Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM). “Among them was a top commander, Saifullah, who had been active in Chenab valley for more than a year,” an official source said.
Army’s White Knight Corps confirmed the terrorists’ eliminations. “A large quantity of war-like stores, including One AK and One M4 rifle, have been recovered. Operations are in progress,” a spokesperson said. Sources said the troops were combing the forests to determine whether there were more terrorists holed up.
Meanwhile, searches in Jopher-Marta forests of Udhampur and upper reaches of Kathua continued Saturday. Officials said multiple agencies were working with aerial support and sniffer dogs. According to Udhampur SSP Amod Ashok Nagpure, two to three terrorists are suspected to be hiding in the rugged terrain.
Both operations, in Kishtwar and Udhampur, started April 9, weeks after the March 24 encounter in Kathua’s Sanyial area in which five Pakistani terrorists killed four cops. Officials have reported five encounters in recent days — three in Kathua district, and one each in Udhampur and Kishtwar.
