BSF Assistant Commandant Neha Bhandari was awarded the Commendation Disc by Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Upendra Dwivedi on Friday for her “exceptional courage and operational proficiency” during Operation Sindoor. Bhandari commanded a forward-deployed Border Security Force unit in the Pargwal area of the Akhnoor sector, Jammu and Kashmir, just 150 metres from a Pakistani post. Under intense conditions, she led her troops in giving a strong response to enemy fire, successfully silencing three hostile forward posts across the zero line — the area closest to enemy territory. “On 30 May 2025, COAS General Upendra Dwivedi, PVSM, AVSM, felicitated Assistant Commandant Neha Bhandari of BSF Jammu with the Commendation Disc for her exceptional courage and operational proficiency during Operation Sindoor. She gallantly commanded a forward deployed BSF company under challenging conditions,” BSF Jammu shared on social media platform X. On 30 May 2025, COAS General Upendra Dwivedi, PVSM, AVSM, felicitated Assistant Commandant Neha Bhandari of BSF Jammu with the Commendation Disc for her exceptional courage and operational proficiency during Operation Sindoor. She gallantly commanded a forward deployed BSF… pic.twitter.com/6PDPfTZzQB — BSF JAMMU (@bsf_jammu) May 30, 2025 Neha, a third-generation officer, comes from a family with deep roots in India’s security forces. Her grandfather served in the Indian Army, while both her parents are in the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF). “I feel proud to be manning a post along the International Border with my troops. It is approximately 150 meters away from the Pakistani post in the Akhnoor–Pargwal area,” Bhandari told PTI. “My grandfather served in the Army. My father was in the CRPF. My mother is in the CRPF. I am a third-generation officer in the force,” she added. “My grandfather was in the Army. My father was in the CRPF. My mother is also in the CRPF. I feel proud to follow in their footsteps,” she said. “It’s an honour to command a post so close to the International Border with my troops.” During the same operation, six women constables also held gun positions at forward posts across Samba, RS Pura, and Akhnoor, their morale rising with every bullet fired in defence. Operation Sindoor was launched as India’s military response to the Pahalgam terror attack on 22 April, where terrorists opened fire in the Basram Valley meadow, killing 26 civilians. (With inputs from PTI)