Jammu, Nov 11: The Indian Army paid a heartfelt tribute to Naib Subedar Rakesh Kumar, who was martyred in an intense encounter with terrorists in the Keshwan forest area of Jammu and Kashmir’s Kishtwar district. The Junior Commissioned Officer (JCO) from the Army’s elite 2 Para regiment was killed on Sunday, while three other soldiers sustained injuries during the operation.
The encounter began around 11 a.m. when joint search parties of the Army and local police intercepted terrorists in the remote forest region. The fierce gunfight lasted more than four hours, resulting in the loss of Naib Subedar Kumar’s life. Following his sacrifice, a wreath-laying ceremony was held on Monday at the Indian Air Force (IAF) station in Jammu. The ceremony was led by Lieutenant General Navin Sachdeva, General Officer Commanding (GoC) of the White Knight Corps, who placed a wreath in honor of the fallen soldier.
As part of the tribute, the last post was sounded, and an Army contingent presented a salute to pay respects. In a message on X, the White Knight Corps praised the bravery of Naib Subedar Kumar, acknowledging his “supreme sacrifice” in service to the nation.
Naib Subedar Kumar’s remains were later airlifted to his native village in Mandi, Himachal Pradesh, where he will be laid to rest. His death comes amid heightened counter-terror operations in Jammu, with a significant increase in militant activity reported across six districts this year. Security officials noted that terror attacks in Jammu’s border areas, including Rajouri and Poonch, have claimed 44 lives in 2024, including 18 security personnel and 13 terrorists.
The nation mourns the loss of Naib Subedar Kumar, who displayed extraordinary courage in defending his country.
