The hero of Rajouri encounter
Captain Shubham Gupta hailed from Taj Ganj area of Agra in Uttar Pradesh and was born on 7 October 1997. Son of Pushpa Devi and Basant Kumar Gupta, Capt. Shubham Gupta had a younger brother Rishabh Gupta. Even as a young boy, Shubham exhibited qualities of courage, discipline, and a strong sense of duty.
He completed his schooling at St. Georges Inter College, Agra, and thereafter, got selected to join the Army in 2015 at the age of 17. He got selected to join the Army through TES (Technical Entry Scheme), after passing the competitive examination. In the year 2018, he passed out of Officers’ Training Academy (OTA) Gaya, (Located en route from Gaya to Bodhgaya, about seven kilometres from Gaya railway station.
After years of perseverance and dedication, Capt. Shubham Gupta proudly donned the olive-green uniform in 2018, marking the beginning of his remarkable military career. He was commissioned as a Lieutenant into the Corps of Signals, an important arm that provides communication to Indian army during war and peace. His first posting was in Udhampur.
Driven by his adventurous spirit, Capt. Shubham volunteered for the elite 9 Para (SF), a unit renowned for its gallantry and daring commando operations. The Parachute Regiment, is revered as one of the most elite units of the Indian Army. His journey to becoming a member of the esteemed regiment was filled with challenges and rigorous training.
As a member of this prestigious regiment, he underwent specialised training in various combat techniques, including airborne operations, counter terrorism, unconventional warfare. His unit was deployed in the Rajouri sector of Jammu and Kashmir, operating under the operational control of the XVI Corps of the Indian Army.
In a targeted intelligence-based operation initiated by the joint teams of 9th Battalion Para (SF), 63rd Battalion Rashtriya Rifles and Jammu and Kashmir Police on 19 November 2023, the Kalakote Area within Gulabgarh forest in Rajouri District was cordoned and a combing operation initiated.
The encounter broke out between terrorists and joint forces of the Army and the Jammu and Kashmir Police in the Bajimaal area of Dharmsal following the cordon-and-search operation, the police said.
In the dense forests of Rajouri district on 22 November 2023, terrorists opened fire, leading to a fierce gun battle between the forces and the terrorists, resulting in injuries to the latter. Capt. Shubham bravely led his troops. Despite the danger, he pressed forward, engaging the terrorists who were holed up in a temporary thatched roof mud house.
In the ensuing fight, Capt. Subham Gupta sustained bullet wounds and was grievously injured. The 27-year-old officer had displayed highest ethos of the Indian Army during his last moments and was martyred in the intense encounter with the terrorist.
Captain Shubham Gupta, a valiant and gritty officer, made the ultimate sacrifice in the service of our nation. His unwavering dedication to duty and commendable gallantry will forever be remembered.
Posthumously, he Gupta was awarded the Sena Medal on 26 January, 2024, in recognition of his exceptional courage and supreme sacrifice.
His funeral was held with full state honours, attended by officers from the Army, district administration, and grieving family members.
The Basai metro station in Agra has been renamed as ‘Shahid Captain Shubham Gupta Metro Station on 2 March 2024 to honour the supreme sacrifice of Captain Shubham Gupta. His father Basant Gupta and family expressed their gratitude and thanked the Uttar Pradesh government for bestowing this honour upon their brave son.
On the occasion, Basant Gupta who is District Government Counsel (Crime) at the civil court in Agra said, “My son has made me proud. He was always eager to do something big for country and did so while sacrificing his life for his uniform.”