‘Country has lost a brave soldier’: Last rites of Army Havildar killed in Udhampur encounter performed with full honours

NADIA(West Bengal): The last rites of Army Havildar J Ali Shaikh, who was killed in action during an encounter between security forces and terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir’s (J-K) Udhampur, were performed with full honours at his ancestral home in Nadia, West Bengal on Saturday.

Havildar Shaikh made the supreme sacrifice during a counter-terrorism operation in the Dudu Basantgarh area of Udhampur, Jammu and Kashmir.
His elder brother, Rafikul SK, expressed pride in his brother’s heroic service.

“Today, the country and the village have lost a brave soldier. I am proud that my brother made a super sacrifice for the country,” he said.

#WATCH | Nadia, West Bengal | Last rites of Havildar J Ali Shaikh, performed with full honour at his native place in Nadia

Hav J Ali Shaikh of 6 PARA SF made the supreme sacrifice during a counter-terror operation in Dudu Basantgarh area, Udhampur, J&K pic.twitter.com/peQdzlNBIS

— ANI (@ANI) April 26, 2025

Ali Sheikh, an army special forces commando soldier of 6 Para from Nadia district of the State, succumbed to injuries from the April 24 militant attack in Udhampur district. Two of his colleagues were critically injured in the attack.

“Based on specific intelligence, a joint operation with Jammu and Kashmir was launched in Basantgarh, Udhampur. Contact was established, and a fierce firefight ensued. One of our Bravehearts sustained grievous injuries in the initial exchange and later succumbed despite the best medical efforts,” the White Knight Corps of the Indian Army, posted on X.

A wreath-laying ceremony was held in Jammu on Friday to honour the fallen soldier, Havildar Jhantu Ali Shaikh.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee also reached out to the grieving family of Havildar Ali Sheikh. She called upon Nazim Sheikh, Ali Sheikh’s cousin, and offered her heartfelt condolences, assuring his family of her full support during such difficult times.

The Chief Minister told Nazom Shiekh that he could call her “whenever you need” and said she offered his family a direct line of communication in their time of grief.

Earlier in another operation on April 23, OP TIKKA, Baramulla, there was a heavy exchange of fire between security forces and terrorists. Two terrorists were eliminated, and the security forces foiled an infiltration bid. A large quantity of weapons, ammunition and other war-like stores were recovered from the terrorists. (ANI)