Meet Captain Sunil Kumar Choudhary: Hero After Whom Kathua Railway Station Is Now Named

In a befitting tribute to one of Jammu & Kashmir’s bravest sons, the Kathua Railway Station has been officially renamed Martyr Captain Sunil Kumar Choudhary Kathua Railway Station. The decision, formalised through Government Order No. 129-JK(GAD) of 2026 dated 29 January 2026, recognises the supreme sacrifice of a young officer who laid down his life fighting ULFA militants in Assam just a day after being decorated with the Sena Medal.

Captain Sunil Kumar Choudhary, Kirti Chakra (Posthumous), Sena Medal, of 7/11 Gorkha Rifles, remains an enduring symbol of courage, duty, and selfless service. This is his story.

Early Life and Family Roots

Sunil Kumar Choudhary was born on 22 June 1980 in Govindsar village near Kathua in Jammu & Kashmir. He grew up in a distinguished military family as the eldest of three brothers. His father, Lieutenant Colonel P.L. Choudhary, served in the Indian Army, while his mother, Smt. Satya Choudhary, managed the household through the frequent postings that military life demands. Affectionately called “Soni” at home, Sunil absorbed the values of discipline, honour, and service from an early age.

His younger brother Ankur later joined the National Defence Academy and went on to serve as a Flying Officer (later Wing Commander) in the Indian Air Force, making the Choudhary family a true example of multi-generational military service.

Education and the Call of Duty

Sunil completed his schooling at various Kendriya Vidyalayas across the country, following his father’s postings. He went on to graduate from Garware College of Commerce in Pune and was pursuing an MBA (Marketing) from Savitribai Phule Pune University when destiny intervened.

While his younger brother Ankur was training at the National Defence Academy in Khadakwasla, Sunil frequently visited the campus. There he saw the statue of Captain Manoj Kumar Pandey, Param Vir Chakra, of 11 Gorkha Rifles. Deeply inspired by the story of the Kargil hero, Sunil made a life-altering decision. He abandoned his MBA, cleared the Combined Defence Services examination, and joined the Indian Military Academy, Dehradun, on 1 July 2003.

Commissioning into the Gorkha Rifles

On 10 December 2004, Sunil was commissioned into the 11 Gorkha Rifles. He specifically requested to serve in this regiment, the same one to which his inspiration, Capt Manoj Pandey, had belonged. His first posting was with the 7/11 Gorkha Rifles at Fort William, Kolkata, where he joined in February 2005.

In May 2006, the young officer was posted to Tinsukia district in Assam for counter-insurgency operations against the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA). Within a short time of taking over ‘A’ Company, Captain Choudhary led operations that eliminated two top ULFA commanders. His aggressive leadership and operational success placed him firmly on the ULFA hit list. He survived two assassination attempts.

Sena Medal and the Final Operation

On 26 January 2008, Captain Sunil Kumar Choudhary was awarded the Sena Medal (Gallantry) for his outstanding performance in an earlier operation against ULFA terrorists at Naopather village in Tinsukia district.

The very next day, 27 January 2008, he was scheduled to attend a celebratory lunch hosted by his Commanding Officer, Colonel Pramit Saxena, at Dinjan to mark the award. Fresh intelligence arrived about the presence of 7–9 ULFA militants hiding in two houses in Rangagarh village. Without hesitation, Captain Choudhary prioritised duty over celebration.

Leading a small team, he reached the village and launched the assault. The militants opened heavy fire. Captain Choudhary charged forward and was hit by a bullet in the chest. Despite the grievous injury, he continued to fight, killing two militants and ensuring the complete neutralisation of the threat. No civilian or additional troop casualties occurred. He later succumbed to his injuries. He was only 27 years old.

For this act of extraordinary bravery and supreme sacrifice, Captain Sunil Kumar Choudhary was posthumously awarded the Kirti Chakra, India’s second-highest peacetime gallantry award.

A Son of the Soil Honoured

The renaming of Kathua Railway Station after him fulfils a long-standing demand of the people of Kathua and the martyr’s family. Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh, who represents the constituency, publicly thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for responding swiftly to the popular demand, and also acknowledged the support of Home Minister Amit Shah and Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw.

Captain Choudhary’s parents received the news with a mixture of pride and the enduring sorrow that only the family of a martyr can understand. His father, Lt Col (Retd) P.L. Choudhary, said that naming public places after martyrs motivates the younger generation to serve the nation. His mother, Smt. Satya Choudhary, expressed happiness that her son’s name would remain immortal for generations to come.

Legacy

Captain Sunil Kumar Choudhary served the nation for just over three years. In that short span, he left an indelible mark through his leadership, gallantry, and ultimate sacrifice. From a commerce graduate in Pune to a Kirti Chakra awardee who chose duty even on the day after receiving a gallantry medal, his life continues to inspire defence aspirants across the country.

Today, every passenger who passes through Kathua Railway Station will be reminded of the young Gorkha officer from Govindsar who lived — and died — by the highest traditions of the Indian Army.