A soldier was killed late Friday evening during an encounter with a group of terrorists in the higher reaches of Udhampur district in Jammu & Kashmir.
Lance Dafadar Baldev Chand was critically injured after terrorists hiding in Seoj Dhar forests – on the border of Doda district’s Bhaderwah and Dudu area of Udhampur districts – suddenly opened fire on a search party comprising the security forces and J&K Police.
Chand was rushed to the hospital, but sources said he succumbed to his injuries.
“#GOC #WhiteKnightCorps and all ranks pay solemn tribute to Lance Dafadar Baldev Chand, who made the supreme sacrifice during an ongoing operation at Kanji, Udhampur on the night of 19-20 Sep 2025. We stand with the bereaved family in this hour of grief,” said the Nagrota-based White Knight Corps on its office X handle. Chand hailed from Gangloh, Tehsil Jhan Dutta, Bilaspur (Himachal Pradesh).
Officials praised his courage and devotion to the motherland and said he will forever be remembered with pride and respect.
Sources said the search operations resumed Saturday morning with the area under tight vigil.
Pointing out that two or three terrorists were believed to be hiding in the forests, sources said reinforcements were rushed to the area and sniffer dogs were pressed into service. Drones were also being used to ascertain the location of the terrorists, sources added.
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According to reports, no fresh contact has been established with the terrorists, but senior Army and police officers have rushed to Dudu.
The terrorists, sources said, were reportedly moving in the area for the past nearly a month. The search operation stretched beyond a point because the terrain is located in the higher reaches, without cellular network.
Meanwhile, security forces and police on Saturday smashed a terrorist hideout and recovered arms and ammunition from there.
Taking to social media platform X, the Army’s WhiteKnight Corps said, “Alert WhiteKnightCorps troops while carrying out an intelligence based joint search operation with JKP, recovered one weapon (AK Series), four AK magazines, 20 Hand Grenades and other war like stores in Poonch Sector’’.
