3 Jaish militants gunned down in Kishtwar
Srinagar: A Junior Commissioned Officer (JCO) of the Indian Army was killed while fighting infiltrating militants along the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir’s Akhnoor sector early Saturday.
The Indian Army said that the infiltration bid was foiled as “a heavily armed group of terrorists was seen running back into Pakistan-occupied-Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK) after being strongly challenged by the alert Indian troops”.
The failed infiltration bid comes days after a similar incident in which the Army had claimed killing four to five infiltrators in retaliatory firing in the Krishna Ghati sector of neighbouring Poonch district on April 1. As tensions were escalating following a series of violent incidents and infiltration bids along the de facto border, India and Pakistan had on Thursday held a brigade commander-level flag meeting at a forward post in Poonch district to discuss issues related to border management.
Giving the details of the latest clash, the Army said that Subedar Kuldeep Chand of 9-Punjab laid down his life while leading a group of soldiers in fighting the terrorists who had after breaching the LoC fence sneaked into the Keri Battal area of the Sunderbani belt of Akhnoor (Jammu district) on the night of April 11. “Subedar Chand, a resident of Himachal Pradesh, gallantly led the counter-infiltration operation and in the effort made the supreme sacrifice,” a Nagrota (Jammu)-based defence spokesman said.
In a post on ‘X’, the Army’s 16 Corps-also known as White Knight Corps- added, “GOC White Knight Corps and all ranks salute the supreme sacrifice of Braveheart Subedar Kuldeep Chand of 9 PUNJAB. He laid down his life while gallantly leading a counter -infiltration operation along the LoC in the Keri Battal area of Sunderbani on the night of 11 April 2025. 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”.
Later during the day on Saturday, the White Knight Corps commander Lieutenant General P.K. Mishra visited the Krishna Ghati, Bhimber Gali and Naushera sectors of the LoC to review the security situation and assess operational preparedness, the defence spokesman said. Lt. Gen. Mishra who was accompanied by Major General Kaushik Mukherjee, his counterpart from the Army’s Ace of Spades Division, lauded the troops for their steadfast professionalism and urged all ranks to uphold the highest standards of readiness and morale in the face of evolving security challenges, the spokesman said.
Ace of Spades Division- also known as the 25th Infantry Division, is a strategic division of the Indian Army responsible for guarding the LoC in the Rajouri and Poonch districts of J&K.
After a wreath-laying ceremony for Subedar Chand was held at military garrison Tanda in Akhnoor area on Saturday afternoon, the officer’s mortal remains were sent to his family in HP for last rites, officials said. They said that Subedar Chand is survived by his wife, son, daughter and elderly parents, adding that he will be cremated at his native village Kohlvi on Sunday.
Meanwhile, a Jaish-e-Muhammad (JeM) commander Saifullah and his two associates have been killed in a fierce gunfight in the Chhatru woods of eastern Kishtwar district.
The operation launched on Wednesday continued through Saturday and a senior Army officer said that due to the tactical penetration into the wooded area it (Army) did not suffer any casualties during the operation. “The troops displayed great tactical acumen and swiftness and ensured zero casualty on own men,” Brigadier JBS Rathi, Commander of 5 Sector Assam Rifles, told reporters.
While confirming the killing of three militants whose identities are being ascertained, the officer said, “Despite weather and nighttime challenges, the troops displayed great professionalism and acumen. The security of civilians was our topmost priority and seamless coordination between the Indian Army and the J&K police especially (counterinsurgency) Special Operations Group (SOG) made it happen”.
Reports said that the security forces used drones and other equipment for surveillance during the operation in which the reinforcements including the Army’s Special Forces played a key role in the elimination of the JeM militants. Shridhar Patil, the IGP Kishtwar-Doda-Ramban range said, “We will continue the operations until all the terrorists present in our area are eliminated.” He said that the operation in the Chhatru woods had begun on April 9 following intelligence inputs about the presence of militants in the area.
He said that the security forces have increased surveillance and area domination across Kishtwar, Doda, and Udhampur districts and that technologies such as drones, facial recognition systems, and vehicle scanners are being used to detect movement of militants and prevent their ingress into the hilly region from the border areas.
