New Delhi: India has officially made public the names of six armed forces personnel who laid down their lives during Operation Sindoor against Pakistan in May last year. The names have now been added to the National War Memorial in New Delhi, where each martyr will be commemorated with a dedicated granite brick.
Among the six bravehearts are Rifleman Sunil Kumar, who was posthumously awarded the Vir Chakra, India’s third-highest wartime gallantry award, and Sergeant Surendra Kumar of the Indian Air Force, who received the Vayu Medal.
The six martyrs honoured are:
Subedar Major Pawan Kumar – Headquarters, 10 Infantry Brigade
Rifleman Sunil Kumar – 4th Battalion, Jammu and Kashmir Light Infantry Regiment (Vir Chakra, posthumous)
Lance Naik Dinesh Kumar – 5 Field Regiment
Agniveer Mood Murali Naik – 851 Light Regiment
Havildar Sunil Kumar Singh – 237 Field Workshop
Sergeant Surendra Kumar – 39 Wing, Indian Air Force (Vayu Medal)
Most of the personnel lost their lives while serving in Jammu and Kashmir during Operation Sindoor. According to official sources, Rifleman Sunil Kumar was deployed along the Line of Control (LoC) when he made the supreme sacrifice.
On June 8, President Droupadi Murmu presented the Vir Chakra (posthumously) to Rifleman Sunil Kumar during the Defence Investiture Ceremony. The award was received by his parents, Sudesh Kumari and Yash Paul.
The names of the six martyrs have now been included on the official website of the National War Memorial along with the list of all defence personnel who lost their lives in various operations during 2025.
The National War Memorial’s Tyag Chakra (Circle of Sacrifice) consists of 16 concentric granite walls, with each engraved brick bearing the name, rank and regiment of a soldier who made the supreme sacrifice in service of the nation since Independence.
