Capt Ashutosh Kumar

During Nov 2020, Capt Ashutosh Kumar’s unit 18 Madras was deployed in Kupwara district of J&K close to the Line of Control(LOC). The unit troops were engaged in counter-insurgency operations on a regular basis as its AOR (Area of Operation) was affected by active militancy. The LOC remained highly active and volatile with ceasefire violations occurring very often and without any warning. Besides manning the forward posts in Machil sector in Kupwara district,  Capt Ashutosh Kumar’s unit also undertook operations to check the infiltration bids as its AOR was prone to infiltration by the militants from across the border. On 08 Nov 2020, one such infiltration bid was reported by the BSF patrol at around 0100 hrs near the anti-infiltration obstacle system about 3.5 Kms from the LOC.

As the fire fight escalated, the soldiers from 18 Madras were rushed in take on the infiltrators. Capt Ashutosh Kumar along with his team swung into action to foil the infiltration bid and neutralize the militants. The contact with the militants was lost around 0400 hrs but was reestablished at around 1020 hrs as the infiltrators were being tracked by various surveillance devices. Capt Ashutosh Kumar deployed his troops tactically to block the possible escape routes and engaged them aggressively. In the ensuing fierce gun-battle three militants were eliminated. However during the exchange of fire Capt Ashutosh Kumar and four of his comrades received gun shots and were seriously injured. Later Capt Ashutosh Kumar and two more soldiers Hav Praveen Kumar & Rifleman Ryada Maheshwar succumbed to their injuries and were martyred. Capt Ashutosh Kumar was a valiant soldier and a fine officer, who led from the front and laid down his life in the line of his duty at the age of 24 years.