Examiner Bureau | Rajouri:
An Army officer lost his life after slipping from a steep mountain ridge and falling into a deep gorge during an ongoing counter-terror operation in Jammu and Kashmir’s Rajouri district, officials said on Sunday.
Lieutenant Beereshwar Goswami was leading a search party as part of Operation Sherawali on Saturday evening when he lost his footing while navigating the challenging terrain of the Dorimaal-Gambhir Mughalan forest belt. Despite immediate rescue efforts by fellow soldiers, the officer succumbed to his injuries.
The tragic incident occurred on the 16th day of the anti-terror operation, which was launched in late May to track down two to three militants believed to be hiding in the densely forested region.
The Army’s White Knight Corps expressed profound grief over the loss of the young officer, describing his death as a supreme sacrifice made in the line of duty under demanding operational conditions.
In a post on X, the Corps stated that Lieutenant Goswami lost his life while undertaking operational duties in an area marked by rugged terrain, steep cliffs and adverse weather conditions.
The General Officer Commanding of the White Knight Corps, Lieutenant General P.K. Mishra, along with all ranks, paid homage to the fallen officer and conveyed heartfelt condolences to his bereaved family. The Corps said his courage, dedication and sacrifice would continue to inspire generations of soldiers.
Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir, Manoj Sinha, also paid tribute to the officer. In a post on X, he said he had laid a wreath and paid homage to the Army braveheart, adding that the nation would forever remain indebted to his supreme sacrifice.
“The nation will forever remain indebted to his supreme sacrifice in the line of duty. We stand firmly with the family of the martyr in this difficult hour,” the Lieutenant Governor said.
Operation Sherawali has been underway for more than two weeks, with Army and paramilitary forces conducting extensive search operations across the rugged forest terrain of Rajouri. Troops have established cordons, laid ambushes and deployed drones and tracker dogs as part of efforts to locate and neutralise the militants believed to be hiding in the area. The operation are in progress.
