Kathua railway station named after martyr Captain Sunil Kumar Choudhary
Jammu, July 18
Union Minister of State in the Prime Minister's Office and Lok Sabha MP from the Kathua-Udhampur constituency of Jammu and Kashmir, Jitendra Singh, on Saturday announced that Kathua railway station has been renamed in honour of martyr Captain Sunil Kumar Choudhary on popular demand.
Dr Jitendra Singh said on X, "On popular public demand, the Kathua Railway Station has been named as "Martyr Captain Sunil Kumar Choudhary Railway Station Kathua."
In its order, the Northern Railway said, "With immediate effect, the name of Kathua Railway Station in Jammu Division of Northern Railway has been changed to "Martyr Captain Sunil Kumar Choudhary Kathua" (MSKT) Railway Station".
The same order said that consequent upon the order, the name and its spellings will change both in English and Devanagari, etc.
The other particulars related to KATHUA Railway Station appearing in the "Alphabetical List of Railway Stations in India" issued by IRCA, New Delhi, will, however, remain unchanged.
Necessary correction to this effect for "Change in name" and "Alpha code" is issued by the Secretary General/ IRCA, New Delhi, and "Numerical code" is issued by the Statistical & Analysis Officer /BHND. All concerned may be advised for strict compliance accordingly, the Northern Railway order said.
Captain Sunil Kumar Choudhary(1980-2008) was an officer in the Gorkha regiment of the Indian Army and belonged to the 7/11 Gorkha Rifles. Choudhary served for three years and was awarded the Kirti Chakra (posthumous) and Sena Medal.
On 27 January 2008, Choudhary was instructed to carry out an operation to encounter 7-9 ULFA militants who had taken shelter in two houses in the village Rangagarh. Choudhary led a team of three to attack the house with help from another attack team.
He was shot in the chest by the militants but continued to fight and killed two militants. Choudhary died almost exactly 24 hours after he was awarded the Sena Medal for gallantry.
Choudhary was awarded the Kirti Chakra posthumously.
— IANS
Reader Comments
Good decision by the government. We need more such gestures to honor our martyrs. Captain Choudhary's story is truly inspiring—he was awarded the Sena Medal just 24 hours before he died fighting terrorists. This is the least we can do for him and his family.
It's great to see a martyr being honored, but I wonder if this is just a political move for the upcoming elections. Why announce it now? Let's focus on providing better facilities and support for the families of all our soldiers who sacrifice their lives. Actions speak louder than names on a signboard.
A well-deserved honor! Captain Choudhary from the Gorkha regiment showed incredible courage. This will inspire the youth of Kathua and the entire region. I just hope the government also ensures that the railway station gets proper infrastructure and upgrades to match the name's dignity.
Proud moment for Jammu and Kashmir. Captain Choudhary's sacrifice in anti-insurgency operations reminds us of the constant threats our soldiers face. Renaming the station is a fitting tribute. Let's hope this helps in fostering a sense of national pride among locals.
I respect the martyrdom, but I have mixed feelings. There are many unsung heroes from our region who died in conflicts. Why only this one? And the political fanfare around it feels a bit opportunistic. Still, may his soul rest in peace. 🙏
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