Lance Dafadar Baldev Chand of the Indian Army made the supreme sacrifice during a fierce gunfight with terrorists in the mountainous Basantgarh area of Udhampur district, Jammu division. The region, located at the tri-junction of Udhampur, Doda, and Kathua, has been a hotspot for repeated terrorist encounters.
The White Knight Corps confirmed the loss, stating, “GOC White Knight Corps and all ranks pay solemn tribute to Lance Dafadar Baldev Chand, who made the supreme sacrifice during an ongoing operation at Kanji, Udhampur. We stand with the bereaved family in this hour of grief.”
The encounter began on the evening of September 19 when alert troops of the White Knight Corps, acting on intelligence inputs, established contact with three to four terrorists hiding in the Seoj Dhar forest along the Dudu-Basantgarh border in Udhampur and Bhaderwah in Doda. The joint search operation involved the Army, CRPF, and the Special Operations Group (SOG) of Jammu and Kashmir Police, who came under heavy fire.
Reinforcements, including drone teams and sniffer dogs, were dispatched from both Udhampur and Doda to contain the situation. The massive cordon and ongoing operation reflect the high operational stakes in a region that has witnessed multiple clashes between security forces and militants over the past year.
The Indian Army reaffirmed its commitment to neutralizing threats while ensuring the safety of the local population and pledged continued support to the bereaved family of the fallen soldier.
