BSF Hero SI Mohd Imteyaj Fought On Despite Fatal Injuries in Operation Sindoor, Posthumously Awarded Vir Chakra

In an extraordinary act of courage during Operation Sindoor, BSF Sub-Inspector Mohd Imteyaj, despite suffering grievous injuries, continued to lead his troops against intense Pakistani drone attacks, shouting, “Jawano, aaj khatam kar do inko” (“Soldiers, finish them today”). The brave officer later succumbed to his injuries, laying down his life in the line of duty.

Sub-Inspector Imteyaj and Constable Deepak Chingakham of the 7th BSF battalion were both posthumously awarded the Vir Chakra, India’s third-highest wartime gallantry honour, for their exceptional bravery.

The medals were announced in August during Independence Day celebrations, but few were aware of the full story behind their sacrifice. On May 10, as Pakistan unleashed a barrage of drones and mortar fire, these two men stood their ground at the Kharkola border outpost (BOP) in Jammu.

According to a government gazette cited by PTI on October 22, the Kharkola post came under intense cross-border shelling and aerial drone attacks. Demonstrating remarkable presence of mind, SI Imteyaj stepped out of his bunker to engage one drone with a light machine gun (LMG), while Constable Chingakham targeted another.

A mortar shell exploded near their position, causing severe injuries. The official citation reads:

“Sub-Inspector Mohd Imteyaj, while leading from the front, sustained grievous injuries including mangled extremities, abdominal trauma, and severe splinter wounds to his neck and arms. Despite his fatal condition, he continued issuing orders and motivating his troops, uttering: ‘Jawano, aaj khatam kar do inko.’”

Constable Chingakham, though badly wounded with multiple splinter injuries and a fractured leg, refused evacuation and continued to fight alongside his comrade until his last breath.

Operation Sindoor, carried out between May 7 and 10, was a coordinated strike by Indian defence forces and the BSF targeting terrorist and military facilities in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, in retaliation for the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 people, mostly tourists.

Sixteen other BSF personnel were also honoured with Police Gallantry Medals on the 79th Independence Day for their “conspicuous bravery” and “unmatched valour” during the operation.