, recently honoured Assistant Commandant Neha Bhandari of the Border Security Force){kind=link}
June 2: In a moving tribute to valour and seamless inter-agency coordination, General Upendra Dwivedi, the Chief of the Army Staff (COAS), recently honoured Assistant Commandant Neha Bhandari of the Border Security Force (BSF) for her extraordinary courage and leadership during Operation Sindoor in the sensitive Akhnoor sector of Jammu & Kashmir. Her actions have not only exemplified bravery under fire but also reaffirmed the growing synergy between India’s armed forces and paramilitary units in countering emerging security threats along the Line of Control.
During a high-level operational review at the Paragwal sector, General Dwivedi praised the remarkable performance of the Tiger Division and specifically lauded Neha Bhandari for leading her team with remarkable composure during intense engagements. Under her command, BSF personnel successfully defended critical forward posts, thwarting infiltration attempts with precision and grit. Her citation read not just as a military commendation, but as a symbol of the evolving role of women in frontline combat operations.
Operation Sindoor has emerged as a strategic milestone, reflecting India’s upgraded border readiness and quick-response capabilities. In this high-stakes environment, Neha Bhandari’s bravery has come to represent the strength of discipline, duty, and gender inclusion in national defence. The COAS’ gesture of personally felicitating a paramilitary officer is being hailed as a testament to the increasingly joint operational ethos being nurtured within the country’s defence framework.
Moreover, General Dwivedi extended his gratitude towards ex-servicemen who provided ground-level intelligence and support to active units during the operation. He highlighted that modern warfare, especially in volatile zones like J&K, depends not only on arms and ammunition but on the seamless integration of forces, community cooperation, and swift strategic responses.
Neha Bhandari’s story is now inspiring a new generation of officers, especially women, to take on leadership roles in India’s security establishment. Her commendation is not merely ceremonial; it is a clarion call for recognising merit, courage, and capability beyond uniformed boundaries.
As the nation celebrates heroes like her, Operation Sindoor stands as a proud reminder that the resolve of India’s defenders—be it army, BSF, or ex-servicemen—is unshakable in the face of adversity.