Operation Sindoor: Who was the Indian Army jawan killed in Pakistan shelling along LoC?

As Pakistan continued its cross-border shelling along the Line of Control (LoC) in the aftermath of Operation Sindoor, the Indian Army confirmed the loss of one of its soldiers on Wednesday.

Lance Naik Dinesh Kumar, a 32-year-old soldier from Palwal district in Haryana, was stationed in Jammu and Kashmir’s Poonch district. The region is witnessing intense artillery and mortar shelling by the Pakistani Army.

#GeneralUpendraDwivedi, #COAS and All Ranks of the #IndianArmy salute the supreme sacrifice of Lance Naik Dinesh Kumar, who laid down his life on 07 May 2025 during ceasefire violations by the Pakistan Army along the Line of Control.#IndianArmy stands in solidarity with the… https://t.co/O5QGGkQavb

— ADG PI - INDIAN ARMY (@adgpi) May 8, 2025

Tragically, the assault claimed the lives of at least 13 people, including four children and Lance Naik Kumar. Another 59 individuals were injured in the attack, according to the Ministry of External Affairs.

Catch all the live updates from  India’s Operation Sindoor  here

So, who was Lance Naik Dinesh Kumar? What happened in Poonch? Here’s what we know.

About Lance Naik Dinesh Kumar

Dinesh Kumar, who hailed from Mohammadpur village in Haryana’s Palwal district, joined the Indian Army in 2014. Recently promoted to the rank of Lance Naik, he was posted in Jammu and Kashmir’s Poonch district, according to his father Daya Ram Sharma, in a Hindustan Times report.

His father said the family received the heartbreaking news in the morning. “We were informed that Dinesh, along with four other soldiers, was patrolling along the Line of Control (LoC) and died in the mortar shelling. The entire nation is proud of him, and his sacrifice will be remembered. He was a brave soldier,” said the grief-stricken father. His last rites will be performed on Thursday.

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The 32-year-old soldier was the eldest of five brothers. Two of his younger brothers are already serving in the army.

“His two younger brothers—Kapil and Hardut—have been recruited as ‘Agniveers’. His youngest brother Pushpender is a student, and another brother Vishnu is a farmer. Dinesh’s wife Seema is an advocate and is expecting a child. The couple has a son and a daughter,” village sarpanch Bhup Ram told the outlet.

“The entire nation is proud of him. Dinesh wanted to join the army from a young age,” he added.

Kumar’s father also said he would allow Dinesh’s son to join the army in the future, to carry forward his father’s legacy.

Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Saini paid tribute to Kumar and wrote in a social media post, “Every citizen of the country is proud of your martyrdom. This country will never forget your sacrifice. I salute this martyrdom.”

“ऑपरेशन सिंदूर” के बाद आज सुबह जम्मू के पुंछ में पाकिस्तान की ओर से हुई गोलीबारी का डटकर सामना करते हुए माँ भारती के वीर सपूत, हरियाणा के पलवल के बेटे, जवान दिनेश कुमार शर्मा जी ने अपने प्राणों का सर्वोच्च बलिदान दिया।

आपकी शहादत पर प्रत्येक देशवासी को गर्व है। यह देश आपके त्याग… pic.twitter.com/5rUtyhgDG9

— Nayab Saini (@NayabSainiBJP) May 7, 2025

Rohtak MP Deepender Hooda also expressed his condolences, saying, “I salute his martyrdom and offer deep condolences for the bereaved family in the hour of grief.”

What is happening near LoC?

The Pakistani Army has opened unprovoked fire across the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir.

In a statement, the Indian Army said, “During the night of May 7-8, 2025, Pakistan Army posts resorted to unprovoked fire using Small Arms and Artillery Guns across the LoC in areas opposite Kupwara, Baramulla, Uri and Akhnoor areas in J&K. Indian Army responded proportionately.”

This marked the 14th straight day of ceasefire violations by Pakistan.

Among the worst-hit was also the Poonch district, where at least 13 people, including women and children, lost their lives, and 59 others were injured due to the shelling.

Residents of a border village described the terrifying ordeal. “Suddenly, firing from across the border happened. It was a terrible night for the people here,” Abdul Husain told ANI on May 7, pointing to incomplete safety structures. “Thirty per cent of the bunkers promised by the government are fully constructed, the rest are not.”

Also read: India-Pakistan tensions: Why J&K residents are readying ‘Modi bunkers’

Another woman injured in the attack said, “In the early hours, the shelling happened. Our house was completely damaged. I don’t know where we will go now.”

A nearby gurdwara, Sri Guru Singh Sabha, also sustained considerable structural damage during the shelling.

The fresh wave of shelling comes just a day after India launched ‘Operation Sindoor’, a counterstrike mission in response to the Pahalgam terror attack. It involved 24 precision missile strikes on nine terror camps located in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), conducted in the early hours of May 7.

These terror bases were reportedly strongholds of Lashkar-e-Taiba, Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), and Hizbul Mujahideen (HM).

Responding to the operation, the Ministry of Defence said, “Our actions have been focused, measured and non-escalatory in nature. No Pakistani military facilities have been targeted. India has demonstrated considerable restraint in selection of targets and method of execution.”

“We are living up to the commitment that those responsible for this attack will be held responsible,” the statement added.

With input from agencies