Grief swept through Nadia district’s Tehatta area in West Bengal on Thursday as locals mourned the death of Army soldier Havaldar Jhantu Ali Shaikh, who died during an anti-terror operation in Jammu and Kashmir’s Udhampur district.

Shaikh was killed in an encounter between security forces and terrorists following a search operation in the Dudu-Basantgarh area during a cordon and search operation.

Upon learning of the news, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee immediately reached out to the bereaved family on phone, expressing her deepest condolences and assuring them of the state government’s unwavering support. “The state government stands firmly with the family of Jhantu Ali Sheikh,” the Chief Minister stated and pledged all possible cooperation to the family.

Members of the state cabinet are also scheduled to visit Shaikh’s residence in Tehta, Nadia, to offer their condolences and support.

The Indian Army’s White Knight Corps on Thursday paid tribute to Havildar Jhantu Ali Shaikh of 6 PARA (Special Forces). “GOC White Knight Corps and all ranks salute braveheart Havaldar Jhantu Ali Shaikh of 6 PARA SF, who made the supreme sacrifice during a counter-terror operation. His indomitable courage and the valour of his team will never be forgotten. We stand in solidarity with the bereaved family in this moment of grief,” it posted in a statement on X.

The tragic incident comes in the wake of the recent terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam, where 26 people died on Tuesday. Following the attack, the Army has been on high alert in the Kashmir region.
Continuing its efforts to maintain security, the Army launched a search operation in Udhampur based on specific intelligence inputs over the presence of terrorists and a firefight broke out during the operation in the Dudu-Basantagarh area. Havildar Jhantu Ali Sheikh sustained critical injuries and despite immediate medical attention, he succumbed to his injuries.

Earlier on Wednesday, two militants were killed in a gunfight after the army foiled an infiltration attempt in Uri sector in north Kashmir Sunday.