India makes public names of six soldiers martyred in Operation Sindoor for first time

For the first time, the Government of India has officially released the names of six armed forces personnel who were martyred during Operation Sindoor, the country’s military response to the Pahalgam terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir.

The announcement comes months after the Pakistan-sponsored terror attack in Pahalgam on April 22, 2025, in which 26 people — including 25 tourists and a local ponywallah — were killed.

Names to be inscribed at National War Memorial

The names of the six martyrs will be permanently inscribed on special granite plaques at the National War Memorial near India Gate in New Delhi.

Officials said the move is aimed at formally honouring their sacrifice and preserving their legacy as part of India’s modern military history.

Six personnel from Army and Air Force among the fallen

The six personnel include five from the Indian Army and one from the Indian Air Force. They are:

More from India

Subedar Major Pawan Kumar – Headquarters, 10 Infantry Brigade

Rifleman Sunil Kumar – 4th Battalion, Jammu and Kashmir Light Infantry Regiment

Lance Naik Dinesh Kumar – 5 Field Regiment

Agniveer Mood Murali Nayak – 851 Light Regiment

Havildar Sunil Kumar Singh – 237 Field Workshop

Sergeant Surendra Kumar – 39 Wing, Indian Air Force

Rifleman Sunil Kumar was posthumously awarded the Vir Chakra, while Sergeant Surendra Kumar received the Vayu Medal.

Operation Sindoor: India’s response to the Pahalgam attack

In the early hours of May 7, 2025, the Indian Armed Forces launched Operation Sindoor in retaliation to the Pahalgam terror attack.

The strikes targeted terror infrastructure across Pakistan’s Punjab province and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, reportedly killing over 100 militants and destroying multiple camps.

India calls response ‘focused and non-escalatory’

Following the operation, India described its response as “focused, measured and non-escalatory”, while warning that any attack on Indian military targets would invite a proportionate response.

The strikes triggered a three-day escalation between India and Pakistan, with casualties reported on both sides. The hostilities ended on May 10, 2025, after both countries agreed to an immediate ceasefire following sustained cross-border exchanges.

Officials and analysts say Operation Sindoor marked a shift in India’s counter-terror approach — from strategic restraint to swift, calibrated and precise military action in response to terror attacks.