Sowar Sunil Kumar made the supreme sacrifice on 23 October 2006 while serving with 60 Rashtriya Rifles in Jammu and Kashmir. He belonged to 5 Armoured Regiment and had been deployed with the Rashtriya Rifles for operational duties. During an operation in the Rajouri-Poonch sector, he engaged armed adversaries and sustained multiple gunshot injuries. He was evacuated to hospital but succumbed to his injuries at the age of 24.
A young soldier from Uttar Pradesh
Born on 25 June 1982, Sowar Sunil Kumar hailed from Nagla Khari village in Mathura district, Uttar Pradesh. He was the son of Shri Bharat Singh and Smt Ramdehi Devi and had two sisters, Seema and Narmada.
He joined the Indian Army on 29 October 2002 and was recruited into 5 Armoured Regiment. His subsequent deployment with 60 Rashtriya Rifles brought him into the demanding operational environment of Jammu and Kashmir.
The operation of 23 October 2006
During an operation in the Rajouri-Poonch sector, troops were acting on intelligence concerning an infiltration attempt. When the team encountered armed adversaries, the soldiers came under fire and responded to the threat.
Sowar Sunil Kumar repositioned himself and returned fire, helping restrict the attackers' movement. During the engagement, he sustained multiple gunshot wounds. He was evacuated for medical treatment, but his injuries proved fatal. He succumbed to his injuries on 23 October 2006.
His service took him away from his home and family into an operational area where soldiers faced unpredictable danger. His actions during the engagement formed part of his final service to the nation.
A family left to remember him
Sowar Sunil Kumar was married to Preeti Devi, and the couple had a daughter, Geetanjali, and a son, Shivam. His supreme sacrifice left his wife without her husband and his children without their father. His parents and sisters also endured the loss of a loved one whose life had been devoted to military service.
At only 24 years of age, he had a young family and a life that extended far beyond the uniform he wore. His martyrdom serves as a reminder that every soldier remembered in a roll of honour is also a son, brother, husband or father whose absence is deeply felt at home.
Honouring his sacrifice
Sowar Sunil Kumar served with 5 Armoured Regiment and 60 Rashtriya Rifles before making the supreme sacrifice on 23 October 2006. His service and commitment deserve to be preserved alongside the stories of soldiers who gave their lives in the line of duty.
The Honour Post pays tribute to Sowar Sunil Kumar, who made the supreme sacrifice while serving in Jammu and Kashmir. His courage and service will remain part of the nation's remembrance of its bravehearts.
