Lance Dafadar Baldev Chand served in the Indian Army's Armoured Corps and was attached to 4 Rashtriya Rifles. He hailed from Gangloh village in Jhanduta tehsil of Bilaspur district, Himachal Pradesh.
His final operation came in the high reaches of Kishtwar, Jammu & Kashmir, where troops were conducting a counter-terrorist operation against terrorists operating in the area.
The Kishtwar Operation
On 19 September 2025, Lance Dafadar Baldev Chand was part of a team operating in the high reaches of Kishtwar following information about the presence of terrorists.
During the operation, the troops entered a suspected hideout and came under attack. An armed terrorist attempted to overpower the soldiers at close quarters. Recognising the immediate threat to his comrades, Lance Dafadar Baldev Chand moved towards the terrorist and engaged him in hand-to-hand combat.
During the struggle, he managed to snatch a Turkish-made pistol from the terrorist, preventing the weapon from being used against his fellow soldiers and giving his team an opportunity to regroup and establish a cordon.
The confrontation continued at close quarters. A second terrorist opened fire, and Lance Dafadar Baldev Chand sustained a grievous gunshot wound to his chest. Despite his mortal injury, he continued to grapple with the terrorist until he succumbed to his wounds.
The Final Sacrifice
Lance Dafadar Baldev Chand made the supreme sacrifice on 19 September 2025 during the counter-terrorist operation in Kishtwar.
His actions in those final moments helped protect his fellow soldiers from an immediate threat and allowed the team to regroup. His courage and determination in close-quarter combat were subsequently recognised with the Shaurya Chakra, Posthumous.
Lance Dafadar Baldev Chand's story is one of courage in the face of immediate danger and of a soldier who placed the safety of his comrades before his own. His supreme sacrifice remains part of the story of the soldiers who served in the challenging terrain of Jammu & Kashmir.
On 19 September, The Honour Post pays tribute to Lance Dafadar Baldev Chand for his courage, service and supreme sacrifice in the service of the nation.
