Defending Against Akhnoor Assault: The Valiant BSF Female Soldiers Who Held the Line for 72 Hours
In an unprecedented demonstration of courage and operational prowess, seven female officers of the Border Security Force (BSF) held their ground for three consecutive days and nights in the Akhnoor sector of Jammu and Kashmir amidst relentless enemy fire during Operation Sindoor.
Assistant Commandant Neha Bhandari, a third-generation officer with a service history in the BSF spanning three years, defied senior officers' suggestions to retreat from the frontline. "We have undergone the same rigorous training as our male counterparts. I saw no reason to step back," she reportedly said.
The operation ensued after India's retaliatory strikes on terror camps following the April 22 terrorist attack in Pahalgam that claimed 26 lives.
BSF officials confirmed that the women personnel, including Manjit Kour and Malkit Kour from Punjab, Swapna Rath and Shampa Basak from West Bengal, Sumi Xess from Jharkhand, and Jyoti Banian from Odisha, were engaged in active defense and weapons deployment against the enemy post. Their relentless counteroffensive efforts compelled the enemy to withdraw.
BSF DIG Varindar Dutta of the Sunderbani sector lauded Bhandari's leadership, noting that she coordinated Army reinforcements and made independent decisions regarding artillery deployment. "Today, for the first time in our history, a woman BSF officer has commanded in an active combat situation," he said.
For her exemplary leadership and valor, Assistant Commandant Neha Bhandari was honored with the Army Chief’s Commendation Disc by the Chief of Army Staff, General Upendra Dwivedi, last Friday. Bhandari hails from a family with a rich military background, with both her parents having served in the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF).
The courageous actions of Neha Bhandari and her team have been celebrated as a beacon of empowerment and resolve, inspiring many women to join the national defense and security forces.
- The women officers of the BSF, including Assistant Commandant Neha Bhandari, demonstrated their commitment to science and health-and-wellness by displaying exceptional resilience during Operation Sindoor, a critical event in women's health and sports.
- Following her honors for exemplary leadership in combat, Assistant Commandant Neha Bhandari continues to be a trailblazer in the field of science, health-and-wellness, and sports, which represent domains traditionally dominated by men, inspiring a new generation of women to join the ranks of national defense and security forces.
