CM Sukhu Hails Shaurya Chakra for Martyr Baldev Chand
Synopsis
Himachal Pradesh CM Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu paid tribute to Lance Dafadar Baldev Chand of Bilaspur, posthumously awarded the Shaurya Chakra by President Draupadi Murmu for exceptional courage during a Kashmir counter-terrorism operation on 19 September 2025, in which he was fatally shot while protecting his comrades.
Key Takeaways
Lance Dafadar Baldev Chand of Sanihra Panchayat, Bilaspur , Himachal Pradesh, was posthumously awarded the Shaurya Chakra .
The award was conferred by President Draupadi Murmu .
Baldev Chand served with 4 Battalion, Rashtriya Rifles and was killed on 19 September 2025 during a counter-terrorism operation in Kashmir .
He continued fighting after being shot in the chest, protecting fellow soldiers before succumbing to his injuries.
CM Sukhu acknowledged the grief of the martyr's mother Smt.
Vijay Kumari and wife Smt.
The Shaurya Chakra is India's third-highest peacetime gallantry award, instituted in 1952 .
Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Tuesday, 9 June 2026, paid tribute to Lance Dafadar Baldev Chand of 4 Battalion, Rashtriya Rifles, who was posthumously awarded the Shaurya Chakra by President Draupadi Murmu for supreme courage during a counter-terrorism operation in Kashmir on 19 September 2025.
Context
Lance Dafadar Baldev Chand hailed from Sanihra Panchayat in Bilaspur district, Himachal Pradesh. He was serving with 4 Battalion, Rashtriya Rifles — the Indian Army's dedicated counter-insurgency force deployed across Jammu and Kashmir — when he made the ultimate sacrifice. Chief Minister Sukhu described the posthumous honour as 'garv aur bhaavukta ka kshan' [a moment of pride and emotion] for the entire state.
In his post, Sukhu wrote that despite being shot in the chest, Baldev Chand continued fighting the terrorists until his last breath, protecting his comrades and the motherland. The Chief Minister declared: 'Shaheed Baldev Chand ji amar rahein' — 'Martyr Baldev Chand is immortal.'
Policy Backdrop
The Shaurya Chakra is a peacetime gallantry award instituted by the Government of India in 1952. It ranks third in the order of peacetime gallantry awards and is conferred for acts of bravery or self-sacrifice, including those performed outside a battlefield — such as counter-insurgency operations. The award is announced on Republic Day (26 January) and Independence Day (15 August) each year and formally conferred by the President of India.
The Rashtriya Rifles was raised in 1990 specifically to conduct counter-insurgency operations in Jammu and Kashmir. Its battalions are drawn from regular Indian Army units and have been at the forefront of anti-terror operations in the region for over three decades.
Stakeholders and Impact
Chief Minister Sukhu specifically acknowledged the grief of Baldev Chand's mother, Smt. Vijay Kumari, and his wife, Smt. Shivani Ranaut, stating that their sorrow is 'beyond words.' The martyr's family, residents of Sanihra Panchayat, Bilaspur, now bear the weight of his sacrifice alongside the recognition of a grateful nation.
Himachal Pradesh has a long tradition of military service, with the hill state contributing a disproportionately large number of soldiers to the Indian Army relative to its population. Public acknowledgements by the Chief Minister of gallantry awards serve both to honour individual sacrifice and to affirm the state government's solidarity with armed forces families.
What's Next
Attention will now turn to whether the Himachal Pradesh government announces specific welfare measures for the family of Shaheed Baldev Chand, such as financial assistance, employment to a next of kin, or naming of a public institution in his honour — steps that successive state governments have taken for martyrs in the past. The next scheduled announcement of gallantry awards will be on Independence Day, 15 August 2026, when further acts of bravery from ongoing counter-terrorism operations may be recognised.
Point of View
With its high per-capita military enlistment, is a state where such gestures carry particular electoral and social weight. The acknowledgement of the martyr's family by name — mother and wife — signals an intent to personalise state solidarity beyond ceremonial rhetoric. Whether that solidarity translates into concrete welfare measures for the Chand family will be the real test of the tribute's substance.
NationPress
27 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Lance Dafadar Baldev Chand?
Lance Dafadar Baldev Chand was a soldier from Sanihra Panchayat in Bilaspur district, Himachal Pradesh, serving with 4 Battalion, Rashtriya Rifles. He was killed on 19 September 2025 during a counter-terrorism operation in Kashmir and was posthumously awarded the Shaurya Chakra.
What is the Shaurya Chakra award?
The Shaurya Chakra is India's third-highest peacetime gallantry award, instituted in 1952. It is conferred by the President of India for acts of bravery or self-sacrifice, including during counter-insurgency operations, and is announced on Republic Day and Independence Day each year.
Why did CM Sukhu post about Baldev Chand?
Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu posted to honour Baldev Chand's posthumous Shaurya Chakra award, expressing the state's pride in the soldier's sacrifice and condolences to his family.
What is the Rashtriya Rifles?
The Rashtriya Rifles is a specialised Indian Army counter-insurgency force raised in 1990. Its battalions are deployed in Jammu and Kashmir to conduct anti-terror operations and have been active in the region for over three decades.
What benefits do martyr families receive in Himachal Pradesh?
State governments in Himachal Pradesh have in the past provided financial assistance, employment to next of kin, and named public institutions after martyrs, though specific measures for Baldev Chand's family had not been announced at the time of the Chief Minister's post.
