Jammu & Kashmir: War memorial set up in Rajouri to honour fallen heroes of Operation Sindoor

RAJOURI/JAMMU: In a tribute to fallen heroes, including a senior government official, who lost their lives during Operation Sindoor in May last year, the army in coordination with Jammu and Kashmir government has established a war memorial in the border district of Jammu, officials said on Saturday.

The memorial has been erected at Gujjar Mandi Chowk, the same location that witnessed intense Pakistani shelling on civilian areas in retaliation to Operation Sindoor, which was launched by the Indian Armed Forces across the border on May 7 to hit terror infrastructure in Pakistan to avenge killing of 26 people by terrorists in Pahalgam attack.

Among those who lost their lives in Pakistani shelling was Additional District Development Commissioner (ADDC) Rajouri, Raj Kumar Thappa. The officer was killed when an artillery shell struck his official residence in the area on May 10.

The memorial features murals of Thappa, Subedar Major Pawan Kumar of the Krishna Ghati Brigade, and three other Army personnel who lost their lives in the line of duty, the officials said.

They said a separate statue depicting an Army soldier alongside a local nomad with his child and a goat has also been installed at the site, symbolising the strong bond between the armed forces and the civilian population in the border region.

The officials said the memorial serves not only as a site of remembrance but also as a reminder of the shared sacrifices of soldiers and civilians during times of conflict.

It reflects the resilience of the people of Rajouri and their unwavering support for the nation's security forces, they said.

Local residents have hailed the decision to establish the memorial, describing it as a fitting tribute to those who lost their lives during the shelling.