Tributes paid to fallen soldier; operation on to track down terrorists in J&K forest

JAMMU: Indian Army and J&K police Sunday paid floral tributes to a Lance Dafadar who laid down his life fighting terrorists in a remote forest area between Doda and Udhampur districts Friday evening. Search operations continued for the third consecutive day on Sunday to track down the terrorists holed up in the forest.

Lance Dafadar Baldev Chand was critically injured when terrorists opened fire on a joint search party of Army and police’s Special Operations Group in the Seoj Dhar forest between Udhampur and Doda districts. He succumbed to his injuries at a hospital.

An Army White Knight Corps spokesperson posted on X: “Honouring the valour of Lance Dafadar Baldev Chand, the Chief of Staff, WhiteKnightCorps, laid a wreath in tribute to the braveheart. His supreme sacrifice stands as a beacon of courage and duty, inspiring future generations.”

In his condolences, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha said, “Salute to the indomitable courage of braveheart Lance Dafadar Baldev Chand, who made the supreme sacrifice for the nation during the anti-terror operation in Udhampur. The grateful nation will forever be indebted to his valour and unwavering commitment to duty.”

Doda-Kishtwar-Ramban Range DIG, Shridhar Patil, along with several civil officers, also attended the ceremony and paid their tributes to the fallen soldier.

“A massive search operation backed by drones and sniffer dogs resumed this morning around the encounter site, with the cordon further strengthened by additional reinforcements to trace and eliminate the hiding terrorists,” an official said.