SRINAGAR, AUGUST 09, 2025 – Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah paid heartfelt tributes to the brave soldiers who made the ultimate sacrifice during an ongoing anti-terror operation in Kulgam district. In a solemn ceremony at the Chinar Corps headquarters in Badamibagh, Srinagar, the Chief Minister laid a wreath to honour Lance Naik Pritpal Singh and Sepoy Harminder Singh, who lost their lives in a fierce gunfight with terrorists in the Akhal forest area.
The encounter, part of Operation Akhal, began on August 1, 2025, and is among the longest anti-terror operations in the Kashmir Valley in recent years. Targeting a group of terrorists in the dense forests of Kulgam, the operation has resulted in the elimination of two militants, with several others believed to be trapped.
The fallen soldiers, part of the Army’s elite counter-insurgency unit, were killed in an overnight exchange of fire, with two others injured and airlifted to the Army’s 92 Base Hospital in Srinagar.Chief Minister Abdullah expressed deep condolences, stating, “I salute the indomitable courage of our brave hearts Lance Naik Pritpal Singh and Sepoy Harminder Singh, who made the supreme sacrifice in the service of the motherland.
Their valour, grit, and determination will never be forgotten. My thoughts are with the bereaved families in this hour of grief.”The district administration, security forces, and senior officials continue to monitor the operation, which involves drones, helicopters, and elite para-commandos to neutralize the remaining terrorists. The Chief Minister’s tribute underscores the sacrifices made by the armed forces in defending the nation’s sovereignty and integrity.
