Date of Birth
10 July 1990
Balidan Diwas
25 January 2017
Place of Supreme Sacrifice
Gurez Sector, Jammu & Kashmir
State of Origin
Shahdol, Madhya Pradesh
Unit / Regiment
51 Rashtriya Rifles
Biography
Devender Kumar Soni was born on 10 July 1990 in Shahdol district of Madhya Pradesh. Drawn to the armed forces from childhood, he joined the Indian Army after completing his schooling in his native place. He was inducted into the 9 Mahar Regiment, an infantry unit renowned for its fearless soldiers and numerous battle honours. After serving with his parent unit for a few years, he was posted to the 51 Rashtriya Rifles, deployed in Jammu and Kashmir for counter-insurgency operations. In January 2017, his unit was deployed in the Gurez Sector of North Kashmir near the Line of Control, an area of remote, rugged mountains subject to extreme winter weather. Soldiers manned forward posts and patrolled between them, often through heavy snowfall that blocked roads. On 25 January 2017, a massive avalanche struck the post at Neeru village in the Tulail area, about 25 kilometres from Gurez, engulfing patrolling troops under tons of snow. Despite a large rescue operation carried out over many hours in harsh conditions, Sepoy Devender Kumar Soni and thirteen fellow soldiers could not be saved. He laid down his life in the line of duty.