Jammu: An army Junior Commissioned Officer (JCO) was killed in an encounter with terrorists attempting to infiltrate into this side from across the Line of Control (LoC) in the Akhnoor sector, officials said on Saturday.
“The terrorists are believed to have sneaked back into Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) following the intense gunfight in the Keri Bhattal area,” the officials said.
The Army said the slain officer, Subedar Kuldeep Chand of 9-Punjab, was a resident of Himachal Pradesh.
Officials said the troops “picked up the movement of a group of heavily armed terrorists near a stream in a forward forest setting in the Keri Bhattal area late Friday night, and challenged them, leading to a fierce gunfight which continued for quite some time.”
Subedar Kuldeep Chand was injured in the encounter and later succumbed, the officials said, adding the whole area has been cordoned off with deployment of reinforcements, and a search operation was underway when last reports were received.
In the same area on February 11, two Army personnel, including a captain, were killed and another was injured when terrorists set off an Improvised Explosive Device (IED).
The latest incident comes two days after India and Pakistan held a brigade commander-level flag meeting in Poonch district to discuss issues related to border management.
This was the second such meeting since February in an effort to de-escalate tension after nearly a dozen incidents of cross-border firing, and an IED attack.
The Indian Army lodged a strong protest with their counterparts over the cross-border terror activities and the ceasefire violations.
Ceasefire violations along the LoC have become rare since India and Pakistan renewed their ceasefire agreement on February 25, 2021.
On April 5, Border Security Force (BSF) personnel shot dead a Pakistani intruder along the International Border in the R S Pura sector here and later held a flag meeting with Rangers over the incident.
Meanwhile, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha and Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi on Saturday paid tributes to a junior commissioned officer who died in an encounter with terrorists near the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu.
A wreath-laying ceremony for Subedar Kuldeep Chand was held at military garrison Tanda in Jammu’s Akhnoor in the afternoon and his mortal remains were despatched to his family in Himachal Pradesh for last rites, officials said.
Chand is survived by his son, daughter, wife and elderly parents. His body would be cremated at his native village on Sunday.
They said senior Army, police and civil officers led by General Officer Commanding of 10th Infantry Division Major General Sameer Shrivastava and Senior Superintendent of Police, Jammu, Joginder Singh laid wreaths at the body and saluted the sacrifice of the junior commissioned officer (JCO).
Subedar Chand lost his life in a gunfight with terrorists attempting to infiltrate into India from the Pakistan side in the Keri-Bhattal area of the Akhnoor sector late on Friday night.
In a condolence message, Lt Governor Sinha said, “I salute the supreme sacrifice of our Army braveheart Sub Kuldeep Chand who laid down his life in the line of duty. His valour and sacrifice will never be forgotten. The entire nation stands firmly with the family of the martyr in this hour of grief.”
Additional Directorate General of Public Information (ADGPI) of the Indian Army, in a post on X, said the Chief of Army Staff General Upendra Dwivedi and all ranks of the Indian Army salute the supreme sacrifice of the braveheart.
“The Indian Army offers deepest condolences and stands firm with the bereaved family in this hour of grief,” it said.
Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu also expressed grief over the death of Kuldeep Chand and said, “The news of Kuldeep Kumar ji, a resident of Kohlvi village of my assembly constituency Naudan, being martyred is very sad.
“His unforgettable contribution to the service of the country will always be remembered with respect. I pray to God to give peace to the departed and give strength to the bereaved family,” he added.
