SRINAGAR: A heavy-hearted silence enveloped the village of Kohalwin near Nadaun in Himachal Pradesh's Hamirpur district as the news of Subedar Kuldeep Chand’s martyrdom reached home. The 46-year-old Junior Commissioned Officer from the 9 Punjab regiment laid down his life in a fierce gun battle along the Line of Control (LoC) in the Akhnoor sector of Jammu, late Friday night. The incident unfolded when alert Indian troops intercepted an infiltration bid by armed militants in the Keri Bhattal forested area. Official sources confirmed that the infiltration attempt was foiled, but not without tragic cost.

The operation turned intense after the soldiers spotted suspicious movement near a stream close to the forward posts. The group of terrorists tried to sneak into Indian territory under the cover of darkness. When challenged, they opened indiscriminate fire, leading to a prolonged exchange of gunfire that lasted for several hours. Amidst the chaos of bullets, Subedar Kuldeep Chand was critically injured. He was immediately evacuated to receive medical attention, but he couldn’t survive the fatal injuries.

Subedar Kuldeep Chand was serving with 9 Punjab, the same regiment his father once served with. His father, Rattan Chand, now 86 years old, is a retired soldier from the same battalion. Speaking to The Indian Express over the phone, Rattan Chand said, “Kuldeep Chand was my eldest son. I retired from 9 Punjab in 1977. Kuldeep was also passionate about the Army. After completing his 10+2, he got selected in the Indian Army as a soldier in 1996. It is by chance that Kuldeep also got a chance to serve in 9 Punjab, where I had also served. Even during my service, I had postings in sensitive areas, including Akhnoor, Poonch, and Drass in Jammu & Kashmir.”

Rattan Chand recalled how he once tried to get his son posted elsewhere. “When I got to know that Kuldeep was selected for 9 Punjab, I urged a Brigade Commander rank officer to send him to another wing, but the officer told me that he wants my son to be in 9 Punjab,” he said. A proud yet grieving father, he spoke about his son's family. “Kuldeep’s children, Aryan and Diksha, are school students. Their mother Santosh Kumari is a double MA. She is a housewife. My youngest son is settled in New Zealand. Kuldeep’s mother Shakuntla Devi is 80 years old.”

Back in the village, grief was evident on every face. As word of Kuldeep’s martyrdom spread, villagers from Kohalwin and surrounding areas gathered in large numbers to pay their respects. Joginder Singh, the Sarpanch of Gram Panchayat Ghali, shared the logistical details of the soldier’s final journey. “The district administration informed us about the battle casualty this morning. Army authorities told the family that the mortal remains would arrive at Gaggal Airport in Kangra this (Saturday) afternoon. The mortal remains will be kept at Palampur tonight and will be brought to the village tomorrow morning. Subedar Kuldeep Chand’s younger brother is settled abroad, while his two sisters are married.”

Reinforcements have since been deployed to the region, and a large-scale combing operation is underway to ensure no infiltrators managed to escape. The entire area remains sealed as the Indian Army continues its search operations.

As news of Subedar Kuldeep Chand’s martyrdom spread across the state, Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, who also represents the Nadaun Assembly constituency under which Kohalwin village falls, offered his heartfelt condolences. In a deeply emotional message posted on X, he wrote, “The news of the martyrdom of Shri Kuldeep Kumar Ji, a resident of Kohalwin village in my Nadaun Assembly constituency, is extremely saddening. His unforgettable contribution in the service of the nation will always be remembered with respect and honor. I pray to the Almighty to grant eternal peace to the departed soul and to provide strength and courage to the bereaved family in this hour of grief. My heartfelt condolences are with the grieving family during this difficult time.”

The grief was not just confined to the boundaries of his village or constituency. The Indian Army’s White Knight Corps, too, paid a solemn tribute to the fallen hero through a post on X. “General Officer Commanding (GOC), White Knight Corps and all ranks salute the supreme sacrifice of braveheart Sub Kuldeep Chand of 9 PUNJAB. He laid down his life while gallantly leading a counter-infiltration operation along the Line of Control (LoC) in the Keri-Battal area of Sunderbani on the night of 11 Apr 2025,” the Corps stated.

They further acknowledged the courage of his entire team and their successful efforts in stopping the infiltrators. “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,” the post continued.

While the nation mourns this brave soldier, the Indian Army’s campaign against terrorism is actively continuing. The White Knight Corps also confirmed that two more Pakistani terrorists were neutralised in the ongoing Operation Chhatru in Kishtwar. According to Army sources, three terrorists have been killed so far in the operation that has been underway for four days.

This comes in the wake of an earlier encounter in Panjtirthi area of Kathua, where an exchange of fire took place between security forces and terrorists. Multiple surveillance measures and ambushes were set up based on specific intelligence inputs. This joint effort involved the Indian Army, Jammu and Kashmir Police, and the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF).

With these operations underway, authorities have placed the entire region on high alert, ensuring tight security arrangements and intensified search missions to prevent any surprise attacks or infiltrations.

In another grim development, a separate counter-terror operation titled ‘Safiyan’ in the Kathua region also witnessed violence and sacrifice. Four Jammu and Kashmir Police personnel lost their lives, while two terrorists were gunned down. Security forces recovered war-like stores from the site, and the confrontation began on March 23 after local residents reported spotting suspected Pakistani infiltrators in the Sanyal area.

Tragically, the Keri Bhattal zone, where Subedar Kuldeep Chand gave his life, has not been new to such violence. Just two months prior, on February 11, two Indian Army personnel, including a young captain, were killed and another soldier injured when terrorists triggered an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) in the same region. The repetition of such incidents underlines the volatile nature of this border stretch.

Ironically, this most recent act of cross-border aggression came barely 48 hours after a brigade-level flag meeting was held between Indian and Pakistani military commanders in Poonch. The discussion, intended to bring down tensions and foster coordination, now seems a faint and distant attempt. It was the second such meeting in 2025, aimed at maintaining stability amid a surge in ceasefire violations and terrorist activities. During the meeting, the Indian side reportedly lodged strong objections to continued infiltration attempts and urged Pakistan to honour previously made commitments.

While the 2021 agreement to reinforce the ceasefire understanding along the LoC initially brought some relief and fewer violent episodes, recent developments have exposed the fragile nature of that understanding. The return of hostilities in these past few weeks points to a pattern that threatens peace in the region once again.

Adding to the mounting tensions, on April 5, a Pakistani national was shot dead by BSF jawans while attempting to infiltrate through the R S Pura sector. A flag meeting was convened afterward with the Pakistani Rangers to address this particular incident, highlighting the ongoing challenge of guarding India’s porous and targeted borders.

In response, security forces across the LoC and border areas remain on high alert, continuing round-the-clock surveillance and bolstering deployment in sensitive zones to prevent further escalations.