CM Mamata Banerjee mourns the death of newlywed Darjeeling soldier in J&K encounter

The news of the martyrdom of Rifleman Siddhant Chhetri, a resident of Kijom Basti in Darjeeling Pulbazar block, has left his family and villagers in grief.

Siddhant, who was just 25 years old and got married two months ago, was a member of the 9 Para Commando working in the Indian Army. He made the ultimate sacrifice while fighting terrorists in a special operation in Rajouri, Jammu and Kashmir. His family and villagers are mourning the loss of a young man who was loved by all. Siddhant Chhetri had promised his wife that he would return home soon after completing his work, but his promise was not fulfilled. His death has left his newlywed wife and family devastated.

The Chief Minister of West Bengal, Mamata Banerjee, expressed her condolences and praised the bravery of the soldiers who risk their lives to fight terrorism.

“Deeply shocked to learn that our Siddhant Chetri, a 25 year young jawan from Bijanbari, Darjeeling, is among the five valiant soldiers of the Indian Army who lost their lives during an encounter with the terrorists in a special operation at Rajouri in J&K yesterday. Our patriotic jawans laid down their lives to neutralise the terrorists and their supreme sacrifice will never be forgotten,” Banerjee tweeted. “I offer my sincere condolences to the bereaved families of Siddhant Chetri and the other patriots who have lost their lives yesterday,” she said.

Siddhant's mortal remains will be flown to Bagdogra, and his family and villagers will receive them with a heavy heart. Siddhant's childhood dream was to join the army, and he worked hard to make that dream come true in 2019. He was commissioned in Para SF in 2021 and had undergone several operations. The loss of Siddhant Chhetri is a reminder of the sacrifices made by the brave soldiers who serve our country.

At least five soldiers were killed when a group of terrorists ambushed them inside a thickly forested area at Kandi in Rajouri district of Jammu and Kashmir’s Rajouri district on Friday when an operation was underway to flush out ultras. The terrorists are believed to be those who were behind the attack on an army truck on April 20 in Poonch which too had left five soldiers dead. An army major was injured in the operation.