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Two army men, BSF sub-inspector, IAF sergeant killed in Pakistan shelling. Who were they?
At least four defence personnel lost their lives in heavy shelling and drone attacks by Pakistani forces across the Jammu region on Saturday.
These included two soldiers from the Army, one Indian Air Force (IAF) member, and a sub-inspector of the Border Security Force (BSF).
Notably, Pakistan had been carrying out intense shelling and firing along the Line of Control (LoC) and the International Border for several days, after India's launch of Operation Sindoor.
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These deaths were reported just hours before India and Pakistan agreed to a ceasefire . Tensions had risen sharply after the Indian Armed Forces targeted terror launchpads in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).
ALSO READ | Inside story of how India and Pakistan reached a ceasefire
India's action was in response to the Pahalgam attack on April 22, in which 26 people, most of them tourists, were killed in the Kashmir Valley.
In this explainer, we take a look at the four defence personnel who were killed in the attacks by Pakistan.
Here's a look:
Two army men, IAF sergeant, BSF SI killed: Who were they?
1. BSF Sub-Inspector Mohammed Imteyaz
A senior official from the Border Security Force (BSF) said sub-inspector Mohammed Imteyaz lost his life while courageously leading from the front, alongside seven other personnel were injured in the cross-border firing by Pakistan.
VIDEO | Jammu: Wreath laying ceremony held for BSF sub-inspector Mohammed Imteyaz, who laid down his life in cross-border firing by Pakistan along the International Border.
(Full video available on PTI Videos - https://t.co/n147TvqRQz) pic.twitter.com/G4OG7Nm7Gj — Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) May 11, 2025
Imteyaz died from his injuries, while the others were taken to the hospital for treatment, the official added.
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'We salute the supreme sacrifice made by BSF braveheart sub-inspector Md Imteyaz in service of the nation on May 10, 2025, during cross-border firing along the International Boundary in R S Pura area, district Jammu,' the BSF Jammu frontier said in a post on X.
We salute the supreme sacrifice made by BSF #Braveheart Sub Inspector Md Imteyaz in service of the nation on 10 May 2025 during cross border firing along the International Boundary in R S Pura area, District Jammu.
While leading a BSF border out post, he gallantly led from the… pic.twitter.com/crXeVFSgUZ — BSF JAMMU (@bsf_jammu) May 10, 2025
The post also mentioned that the BSF director general and all ranks offered their heartfelt condolences to his family.
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Notably, the BSF guards over 2,000 kilometres of the border between India and Pakistan.
2. Subedar Major Pawan Kumar
A resident of Shahpur in Himachal Pradesh's Kangra district, Subedar Major Pawan Kumar was killed in Pakistani shelling in Poonch on Saturday morning.
He was serving in the 25 Punjab Regiment and was due to retire on August 31, 2025, with his final posting in Ambala. However, officials said he had willingly chosen to serve at the border.
Subedar Major Pawan Kumar, a valiant son of Shahpur, Kangra (Himachal Pradesh), made the supreme sacrifice in the line of duty while defending our nation in Rajouri. Serving with honour in the 25 Punjab Regiment, his courage and devotion will forever inspire us. The nation stands… pic.twitter.com/tnF11Xh9Uw — Ravneet Singh Bittu (@RavneetBittu) May 10, 2025
He is survived by his parents, wife, son and daughter. His father, Garaj Singh, has served as a Havildar in the Army.
Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu said in a message that Subedar Major Kumar gave his life to protect the country's unity and sovereignty and will always be remembered.
हिमाचल प्रदेश के वीर सपूत सूबेदार मेजर पवन कुमार जी देश की सेवा करते हुए वीरगति को प्राप्त हुए हैं। हिमाचल सरकार उन्हें श्रद्धांजलि अर्पित करती है। मैंने शहीद सूबेदार मेजर पवन कुमार जी के पिताजी से बात की है। अधिकारियों को निर्देश दिए गए हैं कि सूबेदार मेजर पवन कुमार जी का अंतिम… pic.twitter.com/Z9ueXhcAKR — Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu (@SukhuSukhvinder) May 10, 2025
Deputy Chief Minister Mukesh Agnihotri, Kangra MP Rajeev Bhardwaj, and other leaders also paid their respects.
ALSO READ | Will Indus Waters Treaty suspension be revoked? What changes, what doesn't after India-Pakistan ceasefire
3. Rifleman Sunil Kumar
Rifleman Sunil Kumar, aged 25, from the Jammu and Kashmir Light Infantry, died from injuries he suffered during shelling and gunfire that took place overnight in the RS Pura sector.
#WATCH | J&K: Mortal remains of Rifleman Sunil Kumar brought to his residence in Trewa village of Jammu. He lost his life in the line of duty, during the shelling by Pakistan, in RS Pura sector. pic.twitter.com/HEqzE81Ux0 — ANI (@ANI) May 11, 2025
On Sunday, his body was brought back to his home in Trewa village in Jammu.
4. Sergeant Surendra Kumar Moga
Sergeant Surendra Kumar Moga, a 36-year-old medical assistant with the Indian Air Force, lost his life in a Pakistani attack while posted in Udhampur, Jammu and Kashmir.
He is survived by his mother, his wife Seema, an 11-year-old daughter and a son who is four.
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Though his regular posting was in Bengaluru, he had been moved to Udhampur only four days earlier due to the rising tension in the region.
Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma paid tribute to the soldier and sent condolences to his family.
'The news of the martyrdom of Shri Surendra Singh Moga ji, a son of Rajasthan, a resident of Jhunjhunu, a soldier of the Indian Army, who attained martyrdom at Udhampur Air Base while performing his duty of national security is extremely sad," he wrote on X.
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He had been serving in the IAF's medical unit for the last 14 years. His uncle, Subhash Moga, said he was known for his patriotism and often encouraged local youth to join the armed forces.
His wife Seema, who was visiting her family home in Nawalgarh after her grandfather's recent death, was taken to the Government District Hospital after her condition worsened when she heard about her husband's death.
District Collector Ram Avtar Meena and Superintendent of Police Sharad Chaudhary visited her in the hospital and asked the staff to ensure she received proper care.
India-Pakistan ceasefire
On the evening of May 10, India and Pakistan agreed to stop the exchange of fire after days of attacks from Pakistan and Indian retaliation as part of a ceasefire deal.
But just hours after the agreement was made, Pakistan broke the truce, with drones seen in parts of Jammu later that night.
A man reads news on his mobile phone after the ceasefire announcement between India and Pakistan, in Srinagar May 10, 2025. Reuters
At a late-night press conference, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said the ceasefire had already been breached by Pakistan.
He added that the armed forces had been instructed to respond firmly to any future breaches along the International Border and the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir.
'We call upon Pakistan to take appropriate steps to address these violations and deal with the situation with seriousness and responsibility,' he said.
With inputs from agencies
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