Date of Birth : 1982
Place of birth : Mandi Dist(HP)
Service : Army
Last Rank : Naib Subedar
Unit : 2 Para (SF)
Arm/Regt : The Parachute Regiment,
Operation : CI & IS Ops
Martyrdom : November 10, 2024
Naib Subedar Rakesh Kumar
Naib Subedar Rakesh Kumar hailed from Barnog village in Mandi district of Himachal Pradesh and was born in the year 1982. Like many lads of his village, he was very passionate about the Armed Forces since his younger days. He eventually joined the army after completing his schooling. He was recruited into the Parachute Regiment of the Indian Army, an infantry Regiment known for its daredeveil operations. Later on, he joined 2 Para (Special Forces) the elite unit of the Indian Army, specialized in Mountain Warfare and Counter Insurgency/Counter Terrorism operations. The unit was raised initially as 3rd battalion of Maratha Light Infantry and was converted to SF battalion in 2000.
After serving for sometime he got married to Ms Bhanupriya hailing from Himachal Pradesh and the couple was blessed with a daughter Yashshwini (Born in 2011) and son Pranav (Born in 2017). By the year 2024, he had completed substantial years of service and had been promoted to the rank of Naib Subedar. His experience and unwavering commitment had transformed him into a formidable soldier and a reliable Junior Commissioned Officer.
Kishtwar Operation (J&K): 10 Nov 2024
During 2024, Nb Sub Rakesh Kumar's unit 2 Para (SF) was deployed in the Kishtwar district of J&K, close to the Line of Control (LOC). 2 Para (SF) was operating as part of Counter Insurgency Force (CIF) (Delta Force) under the operational control of XVI Corps also known as 'White Knight Corps', one of the finest operational Corps of the Indian Army looking after the extent of Pir Panjal Ranges to the Shivalik Ranges and also the plains of Jammu and Akhnoor. The unit troops were engaged in counter-insurgency operations on a regular basis as its Area of Responsibility(AOR) was affected by active militancy. On 10 Nov 2024, the security forces received credible information from intelligence sources about the presence of a group of terrorists in the mountainous forests of the Bhart Ridge in the Kishtwar district of J&K. Based on the intelligence inputs, the Army decided to launch a search and cordon operation along with its Army personnel and J&K Police. The operation was part of a larger effort to track down and neutralize a group of militants who had taken shelter in the dense forests. The search operation was also a part of effort to nab the highly trained terrorists, who had killed two 'Village Defence Guards' (VDGs) a couple of days earlier. Accordingly, a joint operation was launched on the morning 9 am of 10 Nov 2024 along with other elements of J&K Police. As planned, the joint team reached the suspected area of Kishtwar district and launched the search and cordon operation.
As the search operation was underway, the terrorists, sensing danger, fired at the troops in a bid to escape. A fierce gun battle ensued thereafter, with a heavy exchange of fire from both sides. The gun battle, was fierce and fraught with risk as the terrorists were using automatic weapons and also taking advantage of the thick foliage of the forest. Undeterred by the risk involved, Nb Sub Rakesh Kumar and his comrades continued to engage the terrorists and pin them down. However, while doing so, Nb Sub Rakesh Kumar and three other soldiers got critically injured in the exchange of fire with the militants. The injured soldiers were taken to the Military Hospital for medical treatment, but Nb Sub Rakesh Kumar ultimately succumbed to his wounds and was martyred. Nb Sub Rakesh Kumar was a dedicated and committed JCO who laid down his life at the age of 42 years in the service of the nation.
Nb Sub Rakesh Kumar is survived by his mother Smt Bhati Devi, wife Smt Bhanupriya, daughter Yashshwini and son Pranav .
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