JAMMU, Sep 21: A wreath laying ceremony was held in Jammu on Sunday to honour a soldier who made the ultimate sacrifice while fighting terrorists in Udhampur district, where a major anti-terror operation entered its third consecutive day, officials said.
White Knight Corps Chief of Staff Maj Gen P. S. Dagar led the solemn ceremony at the Indian Air Force Station, Jammu, to pay homage to Lance Dafadar Baldev Chand. His mortal remains were later flown to his hometown in Himachal Pradesh for last rites.
Deputy Inspector General of Police, Doda-Kishtwar-Ramban range, Shridhar Patil, along with senior civil officers, also paid tributes. “His supreme sacrifice stands as a beacon of courage and duty, inspiring future generations,” the Army said in a post on X.
The soldier sustained injuries late Friday evening when terrorists opened fire on a joint Army SOG search party in the dense Seoj Dhar forest, situated between Dudu Basantgarh in Udhampur and Bhaderwah in Doda. He later succumbed in hospital.
Meanwhile, the counter terrorist operation continued on Sunday with multiple search parties, aided by drones and sniffer dogs, combing the rugged terrain. Despite the extensive hunt, no fresh contact was reported with the terrorists.