21 October 2018 | Remembering Havildar Kaushal Kumar
Havildar Kaushal Kumar of the 8th Battalion, Jammu and Kashmir Light Infantry (8 JAK LI), made the supreme sacrifice on 21 October 2018 while serving in the Sunderbani sector of Rajouri district, Jammu and Kashmir. His martyrdom came during an armed encounter near the Line of Control, where an Indian Army patrol confronted intruders who had crossed into Indian territory.
Hailing from Deeng village in Nowshera tehsil of Rajouri district, Havildar Kaushal Kumar served in a region where the Army maintains a constant vigil against cross-border infiltration and hostile activity. The terrain and operational conditions along the Line of Control demand alertness, discipline and readiness from personnel deployed on patrol and security duties.
The encounter in Sunderbani
On the afternoon of 21 October 2018, at approximately 1:45 pm, an Indian Army patrol came into contact with a group of heavily armed intruders in the Sunderbani sector. Contemporary news reports, citing Army sources, stated that the intruders had crossed into Indian territory near an Army post in the Rajouri area and opened fire on the patrol.
The soldiers responded to the attack, leading to an exchange of fire. Two intruders were neutralised during the encounter. The engagement, however, came at a heavy cost to the Army. Havildar Kaushal Kumar, Lance Naik Ranjeet Singh and Rifleman Rajat Kumar Basan sustained fatal injuries and made the supreme sacrifice in the line of duty.
Another soldier, Rifleman Rakesh Kumar, was injured during the encounter and evacuated for medical treatment. Following the exchange of fire, security forces cordoned off the area and initiated a search operation to secure the locality and check for any further threat.
A soldier's service and sacrifice
Havildar Kaushal Kumar's name is remembered among the soldiers who gave their lives during the Sunderbani encounter of October 2018. His sacrifice was part of the demanding operational reality faced by troops deployed along the Line of Control, where patrols and security duties are undertaken amid the continuing risk of armed infiltration.
For his family and fellow soldiers, his loss was deeply personal. For the nation, his martyrdom stands as a reminder of the commitment of Army personnel who continue to serve in difficult and dangerous conditions to protect India's territorial integrity.
The available contemporary reports establish the circumstances of the encounter and the names of the three soldiers who made the supreme sacrifice. This tribute therefore honours Havildar Kaushal Kumar's service without attributing unverified individual actions to him during the firefight.
The Honour Post pays tribute to Havildar Kaushal Kumar of 8 JAK LI. He made the supreme sacrifice on 21 October 2018 while serving the nation in the Sunderbani sector of Rajouri. His service, courage and sacrifice will remain worthy of remembrance and respect.
