Srinagar: As the border situation worsened and most parts of Jammu and Kashmir witnessed unprecedented danger over the years, with enemy shells raining frequently on Indian troops across the Line of Control (LoC), particularly from the Pakistan Army, this Indian soldier who hails from Madhya Pradesh displayed immense courage in handling a Pakistani drone attack on May 7, 2025. Ravindra Singh Parmar, a villager from Janori village of Shivpuri district, was injured in his leg while neutralising a Pakistani drone at the Poonch border. Parmar fired more than 130 rounds of artillery and brought down several threatening enemy drones that had tried to enter Indian territory despite suffering injuries. Local leaders and his community have praised his bravery as he recovers in hospital and prepares to return to duty soon.
Heroic Actions Under Fire
On the night of 7 May, 2025, a large volume of fire was targeted by Pakistani forces along with drones to penetrate Indian airspace in the Poonchonch sector. Gunner Ravindra Singh Parmar manned a gun and fired at the drone flying at his gun. His brother, Jaybhan Singh Parmar, said the attack at 1 a.m. had suddenly begun, with Pakistani forces violating Indian territorial limits. Parmar’s immediate directive of 130 rounds neutralised the drone breach, eradicating multiple units before the border could be infiltrated.
In the subsequent firefight from Pakistani forces, Parmar hit his leg, and he was injured. The brutal battle claimed the lives of one soldier and four other servicemen, but one of them will sacrifice himself. Parmar was transported immediately to a hospital where his injuries are being treated. Watching from his grandmother’s apartment in Iowa, Johnson’s resolve has not wavered; he said he’d be back on the front lines in days, regardless of this setback.
Support from the community and leadership
On learning about Parmar’s bravery and injury, Janori village, where Parmar hails from, called on his family; Karaira MLA Ramesh Prasad Khatik also met members of Parmar’s family. The legislator said he was happy for Parmar for making his community and the country proud. Khatik lauded the soldier’s bravery when he spoke to him on the phone; the soldier, however, told Khatik, “It is an honour for me to serve the country.” The soldier reaffirmed his promise to return to the border as soon as he heals, reiterating his strong sense of duty.
Parmar’s family, accompanied by the MLA, were overwhelmed with mixed emotions. They stated they felt proud of his heroics while also expressing the awful feeling of loss. His courage has become an emblem in the eyes of his fellow citizens for the sacrifices made by India’s armed forces for the defence of the country.
Context of Operation Sindoor
Parmar’s act formed part of the larger military reaction by India to dismantle the terrorist framework in Pakistan and POK under Operation Sindoor on May 6–7, 2025. Pakistan, in response, retaliated by conducting drone attacks on May 7–8 after this operation. This took out more than 100 terrorists and damaged Pakistani air defence systems. The deployment included 300-400 Turkish-made Asisguard Songar UAVs, suspected targeted against Indian military and civilian sites in Jammu, Punjab, Rajasthan and Gujarat. Most airborne threats were neutralised by the Integrated Counter-UAS Grid and S-400 ‘Sudarshan Chakra’ systems, key components of India’s air defence tag team, but heavy ground firing was reported in the Poonch sector of Jammu and Kashmir.
Parmar was one of the smallest yet the most significant threads in the fabric that helped repel the drone attack. This thread reflected the role of each individual soldier in defending India’s borders in these troubled times. It shows the courage of the Indian Army to fight against Pak, which calls for his bravery under fire weapon.
A Nation of Gratitude
Local police officer Ravindra Singh Parmar displays his bravery when standing in front of Pakistani drones. He even being shot with a gun he was wounded, but he fights and runs to help the drone he is trying to capture. This pledge to rejoin the front lines speaks to India’s defence forces’ indomitable spirit. At a time when the nation is grappling with increasing tensions at the LoC, brave stories like that of Parmar remind us of the sacrifices made for India’s security.
Still, the Indian government and military are vigilant. While continuing to bolster their defences along the border, they continue to deal assertively with provocations from Pakistan. His recovery will be closely watched, as he is expected to return alongside fellow comrades to serve his duty protecting the nation.