Rajouri: Lance Naik dies, security toll reaches 5 in Rajouri operation

JAMMU: The forces faced another loss in the ongoing anti-terrorism operation in J&K’s Rajouri district as a Lance Naik from 9 Para (Special Forces) died of bullet wounds on Thursday, bringing the total security casualties to five. The intense gunfight in the Bajimaal-Kalakote area led to the killing of two terrorists, including a high-ranking Pakistani commander of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), who’s suspected of leading two attacks resulting in 12 deaths in the Jammu region earlier this year.
The operation claimed Captain MV Pranjal from Mangaluru, Captain Shubham Gupta from Agra, Havildar Abdul Majid from Poonch district, Lance Naik Sanjay Bisht from Nainital district in Uttarakhand, and paratrooper Sachin Laur from UP’s Aligarh.Captain Pranjal was with 63 Rashtriya Rifles, while the other three were from 9 Para (SF).
The mortal remains of the fallen soldiers are scheduled to be sent to their respective native places on Friday, accompanied by military honours. A poignant wreath-laying ceremony is planned at the government hospital in Rajouri, sources said.
The two frontier districts of Rajouri and Poonch in the Jammu region were declared terrorism-free more than a decade ago, but recorded 35 fatalities, including that of 26 soldiers, in attacks since October 2021.
The current operation was set in motion on Wednesday based on intelligence provided by a local nomad, who had been assaulted by the terrorists for refusing to provide them with food. Security forces swiftly ring-fenced the thickly forested area, but troops were fired upon by the hiding terrorists, resulting in casualties.
Providing details on Thursday’s operation, a military source said: “With first light, the Army, along with police, intensified the offensive. The troops were successful in killing a hard-core terrorist of Lashkar. His associate was shot dead on Wednesday.” Arms and ammunition were found at the site. Authorities are conducting a thorough search to uncover any additional suspicious items or support structures.
The slain terrorist leader, known as Quari, received training in Pakistan and the Afghan frontier and was deployed by LeT to reignite terrorism in the Jammu region’s twin border districts of Rajouri and Poonch, the sources said. Described as a skilled sniper and also proficient in devising and planting IEDs, Quari utilised caves to hide and engaged in sniping at security forces.
According to sources, Quari led the terrorists responsible for the shooting and IED explosion on January 1 and 2 in Upper Dhangri village of Rajouri that left seven people dead, including two children. In another attack on May 5, five para commandos lost their lives in an IED blast in Kandi of Rajouri.
The families of Lance Naik Bisht, Captain Pranjal and Captain Gupta are grappling with the tragic loss as the nation mourns their sacrifice.
Bisht, 33, from Hali village in Nainital, had joined the Army in 2012 and had just returned to his posting 15 days ago after spending a holiday at home. His unexpected demise has left the close-knit community in shock. Village head Kannu Goswami said: “We never thought that it would be our last meeting with Sanjay.”
Captain Gupta was the son of Basant Gupta, a government counsel at Agra court. After completing his intermediate education at St George’s College in Agra, he pursued further studies at the Military College of Telecommunication Engineering in Mhow. Joining the Officers Training Academy in Gaya in 2015, Gupta was commissioned into the Army in 2018 and later joined the elite 9 Para (SF).
Gupta’s father was contemplating his marriage, but he was determined to focus on his duty. Described as a passionate singer and a courageous personality, he sacrificed his life to shield a civilian family trapped in the combat zone, said a classmate from the Paratrooper Training School in Agra.
Captain Pranjal, 29, was known for his exceptional oratory skills, according to principal Sheela Balamurali of Delhi Public School in Mangaluru. As an alumnus of the school, Pranjal’s commitment to assisting others was notable. She expressed the collective grief: “While we take pride in his service to the nation, the current moment is undoubtedly one of sorrow for all of us.”
Pranjal’s father had served Mangalore Refineries and Petrochemicals Private Ltd for three decades, reaching the position of managing director.
(Inputs from Sonali Mishra in Nainital, Deepak Lavania in Agra and Deepthi Sanjiv in Mangaluru)
Rajouri-Poonch Security Toll