Gurez is one of the most challenging operational areas in Jammu and Kashmir. Surrounded by high mountains and difficult terrain, the sector requires soldiers to maintain constant vigilance along the Line of Control. In such an environment, an infiltration attempt can unfold rapidly, often under the cover of darkness. On that August morning, the soldiers detected movement and moved to prevent the infiltrators from advancing further into Indian territory. What followed was a fierce battle in the mountains, with soldiers of 36 Rashtriya Rifles standing between the infiltrators and the territory they had sworn to protect.
Among those leading the operation was Major Kaustubh Prakash Kumar Rane, a 29-year-old officer from Thane, Maharashtra. Major Rane had joined the Indian Army in 2011 and had served with the Garhwal Rifles before being deployed with 36 Rashtriya Rifles. He had already been awarded the Sena Medal for his service and courage. A young officer with a wife and a son, he had chosen a life dedicated to the uniform and to the defence of the country.
During the encounter, Major Rane sustained serious injuries. He was evacuated to 92 Base Hospital in Srinagar, where medical teams fought to save him. Despite their efforts, he succumbed to his injuries. His death left his family devastated. His wife lost her husband, his young son lost his father and his parents lost their only son. For the people who knew him, the loss was not simply that of an Army officer but of a son, husband, father and friend who had devoted his life to serving the nation.
Gunner Vikram Jeet Singh, from Tepla village in Haryana's Ambala district, was only 25 years old. He had joined the Army in 2014 and was serving with 36 Rashtriya Rifles when the Gurez operation took place. He came from a family with a connection to military service, with his younger brother also serving in the Army. Vikramjeet had married only a few months before the operation, beginning a new chapter of his life that was tragically cut short.
When the infiltration attempt unfolded, Vikramjeet stood alongside his comrades in the difficult terrain of Gurez. He fought as part of the team tasked with preventing the infiltrators from advancing into Indian territory. His sacrifice brought immense grief to his family and village, but his final act of service reflected the commitment he had made when he chose to wear the uniform.
Rifleman Mandeep Singh Rawat hailed from Shivpur village near Kotdwar in Uttarakhand. He had joined the Army in 2012 and was serving with 36 Rashtriya Rifles. Coming from a family familiar with military service, Mandeep understood the responsibilities that came with the uniform. His service eventually took him far from his home in the hills of Uttarakhand to the demanding operational environment of Kashmir.
During the Gurez encounter, Mandeep sustained serious injuries. He was evacuated for treatment, but his injuries proved fatal. He was only 26. His death brought grief to his family and hometown, where people gathered to pay their respects to a young soldier who had given his life while defending the country.
Rifleman Hameer Singh Pokhriyal was another braveheart who made the supreme sacrifice that day. He hailed from Uttarakhand and came from a family with a military background. His father had also served in the Army, and Hameer followed the same path, joining the armed forces in 2010. His service eventually brought him to Jammu and Kashmir, where he became part of 36 Rashtriya Rifles.
Hameer was involved in the operation to stop the infiltration attempt in Gurez. He was critically injured during the encounter and was taken to 92 Base Hospital in Srinagar. Despite medical efforts, he later succumbed to his injuries. His sacrifice left behind a grieving family and another story of a young soldier who had travelled far from home to serve the nation.
The four soldiers came from different parts of India. Major Rane was from Maharashtra, Vikram Jeet Singh from Haryana, while Mandeep Singh Rawat and Hameer Singh Pokhriyal came from Uttarakhand. Their lives and backgrounds were different, but the uniform brought them together. On the morning of 7 August 2018, they stood together in the mountains of Gurez with one responsibility: to prevent an armed infiltration attempt and protect Indian territory.
The operation ultimately achieved its immediate objective. The infiltration attempt was foiled and two infiltrators were killed. But the victory came at a terrible cost. Four Indian soldiers had made the supreme sacrifice while carrying out their duty.
The following day, the Army paid tribute to the fallen soldiers in a solemn ceremony at Badamibagh Cantonment in Srinagar. Their comrades, senior officers and other members of the security forces gathered to honour them before their mortal remains were sent to their respective hometowns. Across Maharashtra, Haryana and Uttarakhand, families, friends and ordinary citizens gathered to bid farewell to the four soldiers.
Behind every military casualty is a family that carries the loss long after the headlines disappear. Major Rane left behind a young family. Vikram Jeet Singh had only recently begun married life. Mandeep Singh Rawat and Hameer Singh were young soldiers whose lives were cut short while serving in one of India's most demanding operational environments. Their families gave them to the nation, and on that day they paid the highest price for their service.
The Gurez operation was more than an encounter recorded in military history. It was a moment when four soldiers stood their ground in difficult terrain against an armed infiltration attempt. Their comrades continued the mission despite their loss, because that is the reality of military service: the duty continues even when some do not return.
Major Kaustubh Prakash Kumar Rane, Sena Medal.
Gunner Vikram Jeet Singh.
Rifleman Mandeep Singh Rawat.
Rifleman Hameer Singh Pokhriyal.
Four soldiers. One unit. One mission. One supreme sacrifice.
Their names deserve to be remembered, their families deserve our respect, and their service deserves a place in India's military history.
The Honour Post salutes the four bravehearts of Gurez.
Lest We Forget. 🇮🇳
