An Indian Army para commando lost his life during a gunfight with terrorists in the Kishtwar district of Jammu and Kashmir on Sunday. The encounter unfolded in the Keshwan forests, where a joint search operation conducted by the Army and local police aimed to intercept a group of terrorists believed to be hiding in the area. This operation had been ongoing since Thursday evening, triggered by the tragic killings of two village defense guards (VDGs) earlier in the week.
The confrontation began around 11 am, prompting a swift engagement between the security forces and the militants. A police spokesperson indicated that three to four terrorists were believed to be cornered during the encounter. Unfortunately, Naib Subedar Rakesh Kumar of the 2 Para (Special Forces), who was among the soldiers involved, sustained serious injuries and later succumbed to his wounds. Two other soldiers were also injured during the skirmish and have since been evacuated and airlifted for medical treatment to the base hospital in Udhampur.
The terrorists engaged in this encounter are reportedly linked to the abduction and murder of the two VDG members that initiated the anti-terror operations in the area. The Army spokesperson confirmed that efforts were ongoing to neutralize the group of terrorists involved in these earlier killings, with operations actively concentrated in the Chas forest area of Kishtwar.
Simultaneously, security forces have launched another anti-terror operation in the Zabarwan forest region of Nishat, Srinagar, in a bid to further clamp down on militant activities across the area. This reflects an intensified effort by security agencies to find and eliminate threats within the region.
In response to the soldier’s sacrifice, the White Knight Corps, responsible for military operations in the Kishtwar area, paid tribute to Naib Subedar Rakesh Kumar through a message on social media. Their statement expressed profound respect for his bravery and offered condolences to his family during this difficult time. The gesture underscored the high regard in which the armed forces hold those who lay down their lives in service to the nation.
