Six soldiers of the Indian armed forces who gave their lives during Operation Sindoor — India's military response to the Pahalgam massacre — are set to be permanently inscribed at the National War Memorial in New Delhi. Their names will be engraved on the granite bricks of the memorial's Tyag Chakra (Circle of Sacrifice), ensuring their supreme sacrifice endures in the nation's collective memory.

The Six Martyrs of Operation Sindoor

The identities of the fallen soldiers have been made public for the first time. Five belonged to the Indian Army and one to the Indian Air Force. They are: Subedar Major Pawan Kumar, Rifleman Sunil Kumar, Lance Naik Dinesh Kumar, Agniveer Murali Naik, Havildar Sunil Kumar Singh, and Indian Air Force Sergeant Surendra Kumar.

Their names were released as part of a broader list of all personnel who made the supreme sacrifice during military operations in 2025.

Posthumous Honours for Two Martyrs

Two of the six soldiers have already been recognised by the government for their exceptional bravery. Rifleman Sunil Kumar was awarded the Vir Chakra posthumously, while Sergeant Surendra Kumar received the Vayu Sena Medal posthumously. These decorations are among the most distinguished gallantry honours conferred by the Indian state.

About the National War Memorial and Tyag Chakra

The National War Memorial, located in the national capital, stands as India's foremost tribute to its fallen defenders since Independence. At its heart is the Tyag Chakra — the Circle of Sacrifice — comprising 16 circular granite walls on which the name, rank, and unit of every soldier martyred in the line of duty after 1947 are permanently inscribed.

The addition of these six names from Operation Sindoor will mark the first formal enshrinement of that operation's casualties at the memorial, placing them alongside generations of soldiers who preceded them.

Context: Operation Sindoor and the Pahalgam Attack

Operation Sindoor was launched by India as a military response to the Pahalgam massacre, a terror attack that drew widespread national outrage. The operation, conducted in May of the previous year, targeted positions linked to Pakistan. While the government had previously acknowledged the operation, the names of soldiers who died during it had not been officially released until now.

Notably, this disclosure comes as India continues to account for all combat losses from its 2025 military operations — a process that reflects both institutional accountability and a commitment to honouring those who served.

What Comes Next

The engraving process at the National War Memorial is expected to proceed as part of the memorial's established protocols for adding new names. Once inscribed, the six martyrs of Operation Sindoor will become a permanent part of India's official record of sacrifice — their names carved in granite alongside every soldier who answered the nation's call since Independence.