Two Punjab soldiers martyred in Kulgam’s Operation Akhal; fierce gunbattle enters ninth day
Lance Naik Pritpal Singh had been married only four months ago | Sepoy Harminder Singh’s mother and sisters had been eagerly awaiting his safe return
PTC Web Desk: Two brave soldiers from Punjab made the ultimate sacrifice during an ongoing counter-terror operation in the Akhal forest of Kulgam district, Jammu and Kashmir. The martyred soldiers have been identified as 26-year-old Sepoy Harminder Singh from Badinpur village in Fatehgarh Sahib and 28-year-old Lance Naik Pritpal Singh from Manupur village in Khanna.
The news, arriving just before Raksha Bandhan, has plunged both families into mourning. Lance Naik Pritpal Singh had been married only four months ago, and his wife had been preparing to celebrate the festival with joy. Sepoy Harminder Singh’s mother and sisters had been eagerly awaiting his safe return, only to be met with the devastating news of his martyrdom.
Operation Akhal began on August 1, when security forces launched a joint cordon-and-search mission in the dense Akhal forest based on intelligence inputs about terrorist presence. The operation is being conducted by the Special Operations Group (SOG) of Jammu and Kashmir Police, the Indian Army, and the CRPF.
The area, known for its dense forests, rugged terrain, natural caves, and nomadic settlements, presents significant challenges to security forces. Drones, helicopters, and Para Commandos have been deployed to locate and neutralise the hiding militants.
So far, two terrorists have been killed, including C-category militant Harris Nazir Dar from Pulwama, whose name featured in a list of 14 local militants issued by intelligence agencies after the April 26 Pahalgam attack. His recovery included an AK-47 rifle, magazines, and ammunition.
Since the operation began, nine soldiers have sustained injuries, with four wounded on Friday alone. Both Sepoy Harminder Singh, son of Jaswant Singh and part of the Sikh Force Training Regiment, and Lance Naik Pritpal Singh succumbed to their injuries on Saturday morning. Seven other personnel remain under treatment.
Senior military and police officials, including Jammu and Kashmir DGP Nalin Prabhat and Northern Command chief Lt Gen Prateek Sharma, are closely monitoring the mission. Army officers have vowed to continue until all terrorists are eliminated.
In a post on X, the Indian Army’s Chinar Corps paid tribute: “Chinar Corps salutes the supreme sacrifice of the bravehearts, Lance Naik Pritpal Singh and Sepoy Harminder Singh, who laid down their lives in the line of duty for the nation. Their courage and dedication will forever inspire us. We express our deepest condolences and stand in solidarity with the bereaved families.”