Synopsis
A Junior Commissioned Officer of the Indian Army was killed while soldiers thwarted an infiltration attempt on the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir. The incident occurred in Akhnoor sector, where vigilant troops engaged terrorists. The fallen soldier, Kuldeep Chand, was honored for his sacrifice, while operations against terrorists continue in the region.Key Takeaways
- JCO Kuldeep Chand killed during infiltration attempt on LoC.
- Vigilant soldiers successfully thwarted the attempt.
- Joint operations in Kishtwar led to the elimination of three terrorists.
- Ongoing operations against militants in Udhampur district.
- Security forces remain committed to safeguarding the border.
Jammu, April 12 (NationPress) A Junior Commissioned Officer (JCO) of the Indian Army was tragically killed when vigilant soldiers thwarted an infiltration attempt along the Line of Control (LoC) in the Akhnoor sector of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K), officials reported on Saturday.
According to officials, late on Friday night, militants attempted to breach the Indian side of the LoC in the Keri-Battal region of the Akhnoor sector within Jammu district.
“Vigilant Army personnel engaged the militants in a gunfight, successfully averting the infiltration attempt.
“During the skirmish with the militants, one JCO suffered critical injuries. He was rushed to a medical facility, but unfortunately succumbed to his injuries today,” officials stated.
Kuldeep Chand was a member of the 9 Punjab regiment, as confirmed by the Army's Jammu-based White Knight Corps on the social media platform X.
In a tribute to the fallen soldier, the Army posted on X, “#GOC#WhiteKnightCorps and all ranks honor the supreme sacrifice of #Braveheart Sub Kuldeep Chand of 9 PUNJAB. He sacrificed his life while heroically leading a #CounterInfiltration operation along the #LineofControl in the #Keri-#Battal area of #Sunderbani on the night of April 11, 2025. The bravery of his team and Sub Kuldeep’s ultimate #sacrifice thwarted an #infiltration attempt by #terrorists. We stand in solidarity with the grieving family during this difficult time.”
Earlier, in a separate operation, joint forces neutralized three terrorists during a three-day-long mission in the Chatroo forest area of Kishtwar district. A prominent commander of the Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM), Saifullah, was among those killed.
“In the Kishtwar encounter, three terrorists, including the JeM commander Saifullah, were eliminated. A substantial cache of weapons, including an AK and an M4 rifle, was seized,” officials disclosed.
On Friday, one militant was also neutralized during this joint operation initiated against terrorists in Kishtwar district.
Officials mentioned that on Friday, one militant was neutralized in a collaborative operation by the Army and security forces that began on April 9 in Chatroo.
“The operation was initiated based on specific intelligence, leading to a confrontation with militants, resulting in one terrorist being neutralized.
“The search operation, conducted by the Army and police, aims to eliminate terrorists hiding in the dense forests and continues,” officials stated.
Meanwhile, another operation is underway in the Joffar forest area under the jurisdiction of the Ramnagar police station in Udhampur district.
A Cordon and Search Operation (CASO) by joint forces commenced on April 9, with reports indicating that three terrorists are trapped within the secured area.
A civilian informed security forces that three heavily armed terrorists in black entered his residence around 8:30 PM on April 9 and departed around 11:30 PM.
Following this tip-off, security forces intensified the cordon, and after calling in reinforcements, the joint forces are closing in on the hiding terrorists, according to the latest updates.
It is noteworthy that on March 3, a police team quickly arrived at Sanyal village in the Hiranagar area of Kathua district, where five terrorists were reported.
Given that Sanyal village is only 4 kilometers from the International Border, the identified group of terrorists is believed to have recently infiltrated into the Indian territory.
The terrorists managed to escape from Sanyal to the Safiyun Jakhole area.
The police team engaged the terrorists in a prolonged gunfight, resulting in the death of two terrorists. Four policemen also lost their lives in that exchange.
To locate the remaining three terrorists, joint forces launched a ‘seek and destroy’ operation, which extended into the higher reaches of Kathua and Rajouri districts.
A brief gunfight occurred between the terrorists and the joint forces in the Billawar region of Kathua district.
