Rajesh Khatri

Biography

Rifleman Rajesh Khatri was a brave soldier of the Indian Army who made the supreme sacrifice in the line of duty on 20 September 2017 during a fierce cross-border ceasefire violation along the Line of Control. He belonged to 5th Battalion, 9 Gorkha Rifles (5/9 GR) and had joined the Indian Army in 2011. Rajesh Khatri hailed from Torayan village in Dailekh district of Nepal and was 27 years old at the time of his martyrdom. On 20 September 2017, while deployed in the Keran sector of Kupwara district along the LoC, he was part of an armed patrol when Pakistani troops initiated heavy shelling and targeted the patrol. During the intense exchange of fire, Rifleman Khatri sustained severe bullet and shrapnel injuries. He was evacuated from the forward post and airlifted to 92 Base Hospital at Badami Bagh Cantonment in Srinagar, where he succumbed to his injuries. His mortal remains were later flown to Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, and he was cremated with full military honours at Harishchandra Ghat.