A heartwarming moment unfolded aboard an IndiGo flight on Tuesday morning when passengers gave a loud round of applause to a Border Security Force (BSF) officer recognized for his bravery during Operation Sindoor. Assistant Sub Inspector (ASI) Rajapaksh B T, who was seriously injured while saving fellow soldiers during intense enemy fire, was acknowledged mid-air for his courageous service on May 7 and 8 near the India-Pakistan border.
The video, shared by the BSF’s official X handle, captured the flight captain introducing ASI Rajapaksh to fellow passengers as a “very special traveler.” The captain recounted Rajapaksh’s valor during a critical mission, noting how his swift and selfless actions under enemy fire not only saved the lives of comrades but also forced Pakistani forces to retreat.
Operation Sindoor was launched by India as a direct counterstrike to the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam, South Kashmir, where 26 civilians—mostly tourists—were brutally killed. Beginning in the early hours of May 7, Indian forces destroyed nine terrorist camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir. Further retaliations were conducted under the same operation in response to cross-border shelling.
Rajapaksh, serving with the 165th Battalion of the BSF, was at the frontline when Pakistani forces launched a heavy barrage. Despite being injured, he continued assisting fellow personnel, solidifying his reputation as a fearless protector. His gesture of folding hands in gratitude to the applauding passengers on board left an emotional impact across social media.
In response to the Pahalgam incident and the launch of Operation Sindoor, Defense Minister Rajnath Singh declared the mission as India’s most significant anti-terror campaign to date. Singh emphasized that the attack was more than just an assault on lives; it was an attack on India’s social unity. He asserted that the government has not only revised its defense policy but also taken bold steps to protect the nation.
“Operation Sindoor has shown the world India’s changing stance on national security. We now act decisively and with force,” Singh stated.
