In the wake of escalating terror incidents in Jammu & Kashmir a soldier from the elite 6 PARA SF battalion was martyred during a fierce encounter in the Dudu-Basantgarh area of Udhampur. The incident comes just days after the devastating Pahalgam attack that shocked the nation.
A tense cordon and search operation turned into a deadly exchange of fire on Thursday morning in Jammu and Kashmir’s Udhampur district, claiming the life of Havildar Jhantu Ali Shaikh of the Indian Army’s 6 PARA Special Forces. Acting on intelligence inputs about terrorist movement, security forces launched an operation in the hilly Dudu-Basantgarh region. The operation soon escalated into a heavy gunfight.
Confirming the news, the Army’s White Knight Corps paid tribute to the fallen hero on social media, stating, “GOC and all ranks salute braveheart Havildar Jhantu Ali Shaikh, who made the supreme sacrifice. His courage and his team’s valour will forever remain etched in our hearts.”
This tragic loss follows a horrifying terror attack in Pahalgam just two days earlier, where 26 people, including officers from the Navy, Air Force, and Intelligence Bureau, were killed in a brutal assault on tourists. The attack is being labeled as the worst in the Valley in recent years.
In a swift and stern response, India has taken major diplomatic steps: expelling Pakistani military officials, suspending the Indus Water Treaty, and sealing the Attari land-transit post. These measures were announced following an emergency Cabinet Committee on Security meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The nation stands united in grief and resolve. As security forces maintain high alert, the sacrifice of Havildar Jhantu Ali Shaikh serves as a grim reminder of the cost paid to protect the nation.