Remembering the Brave on Pathankot Attack Anniversary
On January 2, 2016, the Pathankot Air Force Station was attacked by Jaish-e-Mohammed militants, leading to a lengthy counter-terror operation that tested the resolve of Indian security forces.
By : Online Desk
Update: 2026-01-01 13:41 GMT
On January 2, 2016, a group of heavily armed militants belonging to the Jaish-e-Mohammed terror outfit launched a coordinated assault on the Indian Air Force’s Pathankot Air Force Station in Punjab, leading to one of the longest and most intense counter-terror operations in recent memory. The gunbattle and subsequent clearing operations spanned several days, during which multiple security personnel sacrificed their lives while defending the nation.
Among the martyrs was Lieutenant Colonel Niranjan Kumar of the National Security Guard, who was part of the elite bomb disposal squad. While attempting to defuse a live grenade reportedly planted by terrorists, he was fatally wounded in an explosion — a stark reminder of the dangers faced even after the main battle had subsided.
Lieutenant Colonel Niranjan Kumar
Subedar (Honorary Captain) Fateh Singh, a member of the Defence Security Corps, also made the ultimate sacrifice. A former Army JCO from the Dogra Regiment and a distinguished shooter who had won gold and silver medals for India at the 1995 Commonwealth Shooting Championships, Fateh Singh was martyred during the fierce engagement with the attackers.
Subedar (Honorary Captain) Fateh Singh
Corporal Gursewak Singh, a Garud Commando, had joined duty at Pathankot only a week before the attack. Shot during the initial burst of gunfire, he continued to engage the militants despite his injuries and succumbed before medical help could arrive, displaying extraordinary courage under fire.
Corporal Gursewak Singh
Several Defence Security Corps personnel — Havildar Sanjeevan Singh Rana, Havildar Kulwant Singh and Havildar Jagdish Chand — also paid the highest price. Rana, the sole breadwinner of his family, was hit multiple times while confronting the militants. Kulwant Singh fought bravely amid overwhelming odds, and Jagdish Chand, who had been working in the base kitchen when the attack began, reportedly chased the terrorists and even managed to neutralise one before falling to enemy fire.
Havildar Jagdish Chand
These men, drawn from diverse backgrounds and stages of life, shared one unifying commitment: the duty to protect the nation and their comrades. Their sacrifices remain etched in the collective memory of the country, serving as a solemn reminder of the cost of peace and security. As India marks the anniversary of the Pathankot attack, their stories stand as enduring symbols of courage, selflessness and unwavering resolve in the face of terror.