Two Indian Army soldiers — Lance Naik Pritpal Singh, 28, and Sepoy Harminder Singh, 26 — were killed on Saturday during an ongoing counterterrorism operation in south Kashmir’s Kulgam district. Both soldiers belonged to the Sikh Light Infantry and were attached to the 19 Rashtriya Rifles.
The operation, codenamed Operation Akhal, began on August 1 in the Akhal Khulsan forest following intelligence inputs about the presence of three to five Pakistan-trained terrorists. The rugged, rain-soaked terrain has posed significant challenges for security forces. Army units, along with paramilitary personnel and J&K police, are using drones, helicopters, and para commandos to track down the militants. So far, at least two terrorists have been killed, and around 10 security personnel injured.
With these latest casualties, the number of security personnel killed in operations in Jammu and Kashmir this year has risen to 16 — three in the Kashmir valley and 13 in the Jammu division, including those killed during Pakistani firing linked to Operation Sindoor.
The Fallen Soldiers
Pritpal Singh, from Manupur village in Punjab’s Khanna district, joined the Army in 2015. Married earlier this year in February, he had returned to duty in April. He was killed by grenade splinters thrown by a hiding terrorist. His body will be flown to Halwara Air Force Station and taken to his village for cremation with full military honours.
Harminder Singh, from Mandi Gobindgarh in Fatehgarh Sahib district, was the sole breadwinner for his family, which includes his parents and an ailing sister. He had served in the Army for eight years and was planning to oversee his cousin’s wedding in October. His family had also been preparing for his marriage next. His body is expected to reach his village on Sunday for cremation.
Tributes and Ongoing Operation
The Indian Army’s Chinar Corps expressed condolences, stating the soldiers had “fallen in the line of duty.” J&K Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha and former CM Omar Abdullah paid their respects, praising their bravery and sacrifice.
Senior Army and police officials, including Northern Command chief Lt Gen Pratik Sharma and J&K DGP Nalin Prabhat, have reviewed the operation on-site. Security forces say the mission is part of a broader crackdown following the April 22 Pahalgam attack. So far this year, 14 terrorists have been killed in the Kashmir zone, including three top Lashkar-e-Taiba operatives eliminated in Srinagar on July 28.
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