Commanding a border outpost in the Pargwal forward area of the Akhnoor sector, within direct line of sight of Pakistani positions along the International Border, Assistant Commandant Neha Bhandari led a bold operation to neutralise three hostile posts acr A proud third-generation officer from Uttarakhand, Neha Bhandari expressed immense pride in serving the Border Security Force and in commanding troops during the intense Operation Sindoor. oss the zero line. Her leadership ensured a strong and fitting response to enemy aggression.
Joining her on the frontlines, six women constables held firm at a forward gun position, their morale surging with each round fired toward enemy targets in the Samba–RS Pura–Akhnoor sectors.
A proud third-generation officer from Uttarakhand, Neha Bhandari expressed immense pride in serving the Border Security Force and in commanding troops during the intense Operation Sindoor.
"I feel proud to be manning a post along the International Border with my troops. It is approximately 150 meters away from the Pakistani post in the Akhnoor-Pargwal area," Neha said.
Assistant Commandant Bhandari described commanding a forward post during Operation Sindoor as a profound honour. “It was an honour to serve at the forward post and give a befitting reply with all available weapons from my post to enemy posts,” she said with confidence.
Recounting the action during the operation, Neha explained how she successfully silenced three hostile posts that had opened unprovoked fire on her position. “I had three posts falling in my area. I pinned down the people at all three hostile locations. We hit them with every weapon we had. They were forced to flee their posts,” she stated. The posts were effectively neutralised to ensure they could not resume firing, she added, commending her troops for their exceptional performance during the retaliation.
Speaking about the spirit of her team, Neha highlighted the strong sense of morale and patriotism. “The 'josh' was quite high. Everyone among us gave their best, because everything we did was for the country and its honour.”
Coming from a family deeply rooted in service, Neha is a proud third-generation officer. “My grandfather served in the Army, my father was in the CRPF, and my mother is also in the CRPF. I carry forward their legacy with pride,” she said.
Assistant Commandant Bhandari firmly stated that women were in no way behind their male counterparts during the three-day-long skirmishes, standing shoulder to shoulder to deliver a strong response to Pakistan’s aggression.
“I had 18 to 19 women border guards with me. To be precise, six women were engaged in direct firing at observation post locations. We are proud of them,” said Neha, who was the lone BSF woman officer commanding a forward post along the International Border in the Jammu frontier during the operation.
Commending the role of women in frontline combat and their engagement in firing on Pakistani posts, BSF Inspector General Shashank Anand praised their determination and courage. “BSF women personnel played an exceptional role in this operation. Even though they had the option to move back to the battalion headquarters, they chose to stay at forward posts alongside their male colleagues and responded with full force to the enemy,” he said.
He highlighted that women officers, including Assistant Commandant Neha Bhandari, demonstrated remarkable valor by holding their positions at the front lines and actively engaging Pakistani posts. “Our women soldiers were crucial to the success of this operation, standing firm at the border to safeguard the nation’s sovereignty,” Anand added.
Constable Shankari Das, who too manned a gun position on a forward post, said, "We have our duties. Just as we are deployed at the border, we carry out our tasks as usual. Our senior commanders briefed us on the situation and warned that firing might take place. We were instructed to respond to fire with fire. So, as soon as firing started, we responded with fire," she said.
Similarly, constables Swapna Rath, Anita, Sumi, Milkeet Kour, and Manjeet Kour were manning gun positions at various posts, like their male counterparts, and giving a befitting reply to Pakistani troops. "We feel proud to man gun positions and retaliate. It was an honour for us," Manjeet Kour said.
In a powerful response to unprovoked firing and shelling by Pakistani Rangers, the Border Security Force (BSF) targeted 76 Pakistani border outposts and 42 forward defence locations (FDLs), inflicting heavy damage during Operation Sindoor along the International Border in the Jammu frontier. Among the key targets destroyed were three terrorist launch pads and over 70 forward posts, officials confirmed.
The BSF’s action followed intense shelling by Pakistan on 60 Indian posts and 49 forward positions, which was reportedly intended to provide cover for the attempted infiltration of 40–50 terrorists, they added.
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