An Indian Army jawan was 'killed in action' during an intense gunfight with a group of terrorists, possibly trained in guerrilla warfare, in the forest area of Kanji bordering Udhampur-Doda districts of the Jammu region on Saturday.
In Srinagar, a Major rank officer also made the supreme sacrifice in the line of duty in Baramulla district.
A joint operation was launched by the security forces late Friday evening after receiving inputs about the presence of terrorists in the Kanji area. Ground reports suggested that a group of at least three to four Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) terrorists was trapped by the security forces. Heavy exchange of fire was reported in the area since Friday evening.
The soldier who made the supreme sacrifice has been identified as Lance Dafadar Baldev Chand.
In a post on X, Nagrota-based White Knight Corps said, "GOC White Knight Corps 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".
The upper reaches of Udhampur have been witnessing repeated incidents of firing between the group of terrorists and the security forces.
On June 26, a joint team of security forces successfully neutralized one terrorist in a fierce encounter in the Basantgarh area of Udhampur district.
Earlier, an elite Para Commando of the Indian Army was killed in action during a similar cordon and search operation in the forested Dudu Basantgarh area on April 24, 2025.
Lt Gen Pratik Sharma, Army Commander Northern Command, and all ranks of Northern Command paid homage to the Maj Apraant Raunaq Singh, SM, who made the supreme sacrifice in the line of duty. Major Apraant Raunaq Singh was decorated with the Sena Medal in February 2023 for neutralising a 'Category A' terrorist in the South Kashmir district of Kulgam in November 2021.
Former deputy chief minister and Congress General Secretary Sachin Pilot on Saturday accused the Election Commission of ignoring allegations of widespread voter manipulation.
He said the commission seems intent on silencing Congress and opposition leaders without conducting a proper inquiry.
“Rahul Gandhi has presented conclusive evidence of vote theft. Yet, the commission is neither denying the allegations nor initiating any investigation,” Pilot said.
Pilot alleged that voter lists are being tampered with systematically, and that millions of legitimate votes have reportedly been removed or wrongly marked. He also claimed that in certain areas, 250 voters per household have been declared deceased.
Pilot emphasised that fair elections are a constitutional responsibility and warned that public trust in democracy could face a severe crisis if such practices continue.
The former deputy chief minister highlighted that the Congress has launched a nationwide campaign to expose irregularities in the voter rolls.
Additionally, he criticised the Centre’s foreign policy, citing weak diplomacy on issues with Saudi Arabia and Pakistan, as well as delayed relief measures during tariff announcements by the US President.
Major Apraant Raunaq Singh was decorated with the Sena Medal in February 2023 for neutralising a ‘Category A’ terrorist in the South Kashmir district of Kulgam in November 2021.