Names of 6 soldiers killed in action during Operation Sindoor made public for 1st time

The government has publicly acknowledged, for the first time, the identities of six Indian armed forces personnel who lost their lives during Operation Sindoor, the military offensive launched against terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir in May 2025.

The names of the fallen soldiers and airmen have now been included in the Roll of Honour at the National War Memorial in New Delhi and uploaded on the memorial's official website. Their inclusion marks the first formal confirmation by the government of military casualties sustained during the operation, which had remained undisclosed until now.

Those honoured are Subedar Major Pawan Kumar of Headquarters 10 Infantry Brigade, Rifleman Sunil Kumar, who was posthumously awarded the Vir Chakra, of 4 Jammu and Kashmir Light Infantry, Lance Naik Dinesh Kumar of 5 Field Regiment, Aviation Technician Mood Muralinaik of 851 Light Regiment, Havildar Sunil Kumar Singh of 237 Field Workshop Company, and Sergeant Surendra Kumar, a recipient of the Vayu Medal, from 39 Wing of the Indian Air Force.

The six names have been engraved on Wall 3D of the National War Memorial under the 2025 Roll of Honour, permanently commemorating their sacrifice in the line of duty. Their addition also officially records Operation Sindoor among the military operations remembered at the national monument.

Until this development, the government had refrained from releasing the identities of personnel killed during the four-day military confrontation between India and Pakistan, despite widespread reports suggesting casualties. The publication of the names at the memorial effectively serves as the government's first official acknowledgement of those who made the ultimate sacrifice during the operation.

Operation Sindoor was launched on May 7, 2025, in response to the April 22 terrorist attack in Pahalgam, where 26 civilians, most of them tourists, were killed. Indian armed forces carried out coordinated precision strikes on nine locations across Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, targeting infrastructure linked to terror groups including Jaish-e-Mohammed and Lashkar-e-Taiba. Military hostilities ceased on May 10 after the Directors General of Military Operations of both countries agreed to halt further action.

The list of those honoured reflects the joint nature of the campaign, with personnel from both the Indian Army and the Indian Air Force among the fallen. The inclusion of decorated servicemen such as Vir Chakra awardee Rifleman Sunil Kumar and Vayu Medal recipient Sergeant Surendra Kumar also underscores the intensity and significance of the operation.

Inaugurated in 2019 near India Gate, the National War Memorial honours members of India's armed forces who have laid down their lives in service after Independence. With the addition of these six names, the memorial now formally records the sacrifices made during Operation Sindoor, ensuring their service becomes part of the nation's permanent military legacy.