Government Reveals Names of Six Personnel Killed During Operation Sindoor; Congress Questions Delay

By Mahima Katal

New Delhi, June 27: The government has, for the first time, officially released the names of the six military personnel who lost their lives in the line of duty during Operation Sindoor, India's military response to the Pahalgam terror attack.

The names of the fallen soldiers will now be inscribed on the Tyag Chakra (Circle of Sacrifice) at the National War Memorial in New Delhi, honouring their supreme sacrifice.

The six personnel are:

• Subedar Major Pawan Kumar

• Rifleman Sunil Kumar

• Lance Naik Dinesh Kumar

• Agniveer Murali Naik

• Havildar Sunil Kumar Singh

• Indian Air Force Sergeant Surendra Kumar

Five of the personnel belonged to the Indian Army, while one served in the Indian Air Force.

Their names were released as part of the official list of armed forces personnel who laid down their lives during various military operations in 2025.

The Tyag Chakra at the National War Memorial comprises 16 concentric granite walls bearing the names, ranks and units of all armed forces personnel who have made the supreme sacrifice since Independence. The six personnel from Operation Sindoor will now become a permanent part of the memorial.

Operation Sindoor:

India launched Operation Sindoor on May 7, 2025, targeting what it described as terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) in retaliation for the Pahalgam terror attack, which claimed 26 civilian lives.

Pakistan responded with aerial engagements, drone attacks and cross-border shelling, leading to a four-day military confrontation that ended on May 10.

The operation was named "Sindoor," a reference to the red vermilion traditionally worn by married Hindu women, symbolising India's response to the killing of civilians in the Pahalgam attack.

Congress Questions Government:

Following the release of the names, Congress leader Pawan Khera questioned why the identities of the six personnel were not made public earlier and criticised Defence Minister Rajnath Singh.

In a post on X, Khera shared a clip of the Defence Minister's statement in Parliament on Operation Sindoor and said there were "only two possibilities."

"Either Defence Minister Rajnath Singh was unaware, when addressing Parliament, that six soldiers had already been martyred. If that is the case, it raises a grave question mark over the minister, who lacks knowledge of the very ministry he leads. Or else, he knew the truth and yet chose to mislead Parliament. That is even more serious," Khera alleged.

The Congress leader further claimed that the six personnel were not accorded the recognition they deserved and alleged that their families were denied transparency regarding the casualties.

"Their families were robbed of the transparency they had every right to expect. This is an insult to our soldiers, and no true patriot can remain silent or complacent about it," he said.

The Centre has not yet responded to Khera's allegations.

The release of the names marks the first official public acknowledgment of the personnel who lost their lives during Operation Sindoor.