21 October 2018 | Remembering Rifleman Rajat Kumar Basan
Rifleman Rajat Kumar Basan of 8 Jammu and Kashmir Light Infantry made the supreme sacrifice on 21 October 2018 during an encounter with armed intruders in the Sunderbani sector of Rajouri district, Jammu and Kashmir. The engagement took place near the Line of Control and claimed the lives of three soldiers serving with 8 JAK LI.
Rifleman Basan hailed from Pallanwala village in Akhnoor tehsil of Jammu district. He served in the Jammu and Kashmir Light Infantry, a regiment of the Indian Army whose personnel have undertaken demanding operational duties in Jammu and Kashmir and other areas of the country.
The encounter near the Line of Control
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. According to contemporary reports citing the Army, the intruders had crossed into Indian territory near an Army post and opened fire on the patrol.
The soldiers responded to the firing, resulting in an exchange of fire. Two intruders were neutralised during the encounter. However, the engagement resulted in the supreme sacrifice of three Indian Army personnel: Havildar Kaushal Kumar, Lance Naik Ranjeet Singh and Rifleman Rajat Kumar Basan, all serving with 8 JAK LI.
Another soldier, Rifleman Rakesh Kumar, was injured in the incident and evacuated for medical treatment. Following the encounter, the area was cordoned off and security personnel launched a search operation to check the locality and secure the surrounding area.
A sacrifice shared with his fellow soldiers
Rifleman Rajat Kumar Basan made the supreme sacrifice alongside two fellow members of his unit. Their martyrdom on the same day connected their names in the history of the Sunderbani encounter, a reminder of the risks faced by soldiers protecting the country's frontier.
Patrolling along the Line of Control requires sustained vigilance and readiness to respond to sudden threats. The encounter demonstrated how quickly a patrol can come under fire while carrying out its duties in a sensitive operational area. Rifleman Basan's service ended in the line of duty, alongside the soldiers who stood with him in the same engagement.
Contemporary reports establish the date, location, unit and broad circumstances of the encounter. This tribute does not assign a specific battlefield action to Rifleman Basan without a verified individual account. It recognises his service and the supreme sacrifice he made while serving the nation.
The Honour Post pays tribute to Rifleman Rajat Kumar Basan of 8 JAK LI. He made the supreme sacrifice on 21 October 2018 in the Sunderbani sector of Rajouri, Jammu and Kashmir. His dedication to duty and sacrifice will be remembered with pride and respect.
