A soldier was killed on Wednesday in the Uri sector of Baramulla district along the Line of Control (LoC) during an ongoing counter-infiltration operation, just days before India’s 79th Independence Day.
The Indian Army identified the slain soldier as Havaldar Ankit Kumar, who, according to 15 Corps, laid down his life while performing operational duties. “Chinar Warriors salute his immense valour and sacrifice, express deepest condolences and stand in solidarity with the bereaved family,” the Corps posted on X.
Army sources said a “brief but intense” exchange of fire erupted between troops and unidentified infiltrators or suspected Border Action Team (BAT) operatives attempting to breach the LoC. It remains unclear whether it was a fresh infiltration bid from across the border or a planned BAT action.
Security forces have intensified surveillance, with routine ambushes, heightened patrols, and reinforcement of forward posts across the sector. The Army confirmed that the counter-infiltration and BAT operation in Uri is still underway to track down those responsible.
The incident comes a day after Sepoy Banoth Anil Kumar succumbed to injuries sustained in a Monday night encounter in the same sector’s Churanda village. This marks the second soldier killed in Uri this week amid rising tensions along the LoC.
Officials say infiltration attempts often spike ahead of national occasions like Independence Day, prompting the military to remain on high alert. The latest killing follows another prolonged 11-day anti-insurgency operation in Kulgam district’s Akhal forests, where two soldiers were killed and two others critically injured during fierce combat.
With Independence Day less than a week away, the back-to-back incidents have put security forces in Kashmir’s forward areas and forest belts on maximum alert to thwart any infiltration or militant activity.
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