Six Operation Sindoor Martyrs Honoured at National War Memorial, Congress Questions Delay

The names of six military personnel who lost their lives during Operation Sindoor have been inscribed on the National War Memorial , marking the first official public recognition of the fallen personnel since the military operation was conducted in May 2025.

The move, however, triggered a political controversy, with the Congress alleging that the Centre delayed honouring the martyrs for nearly a year after the operation. Congress leader Pawan Khera criticised the government, claiming that the soldiers’ sacrifice was not given the recognition it deserved despite repeated assertions of commitment towards nationalism and the armed forces.

In a post on social media platform X, Khera named the six personnel and said they were “brave sons of India” who sacrificed their lives while defending the country after the April 22, 2025 Pahalgam terror attack . He alleged that their families and the nation should have been informed and honoured earlier, accusing the government of withholding details of their sacrifice for an extended period.

The Centre has now officially acknowledged the contribution of the six personnel by adding their names to Wall No. 3D of the Tyag Chakra at the National War Memorial . The inscription includes the names of Subedar Major Pawan Kumar, Rifleman Sunil Kumar, Lance Naik Dinesh Kumar, Agniveer Mood Muralinaik, and Havildar Sunil Kumar Singh from the Indian Army, along with Indian Air Force Sergeant Surendra Kumar . Their respective unit names have also been included on the memorial wall.

Sources said the inscriptions were added recently, and the names have also been published on the official website of the National War Memorial. On the memorial wall, the inscription “OP SINDOOR” followed by “2025” appears above the names of the six personnel.

Operation Sindoor was launched by the Indian armed forces in May 2025 in response to the deadly Pahalgam terror attack that killed several civilians. The operation was aimed at targeting terror infrastructure and avenging the attack. The National War Memorial, located near the India Gate complex in New Delhi, honours Indian soldiers who have made the supreme sacrifice in the line of duty since Independence. The Tyag Chakra section of the memorial carries the names of fallen heroes as a permanent tribute to their service and sacrifice.