Srinagar: In a tragic development from Jammu and Kashmir’s Kulgam district, two soldiers from Punjab lost their lives during an ongoing counter-terrorism operation in the Akhal forest.
The martyrs have been identified as Sepoy Harminder Singh, 26, from Badinpur village in Fatehgarh Sahib, and Lance Naik Pritpal Singh, 28, from Manupur village in Khanna. Both soldiers sustained critical injuries during intense gunfire with militants and succumbed while undergoing treatment early Saturday.
The timing of the news has left their families devastated, coming just a day before Rakshabandhan. Pritpal Singh had been married only 11 months ago, and his wife was anticipating their first Rakhi together. Harminder Singh’s mother and sisters had been eagerly waiting for his return home for the festival.
Ninth Day of Operation Akhal
The encounter is part of Operation Akhal, which entered its ninth day on Saturday. Launched on August 1, the mission has already seen heavy exchanges of fire. On August 2, security forces confirmed the killing of two militants, including C-category terrorist Haris Nazir Dar from Pulwama, who was among 14 local militants flagged by intelligence agencies after the April 26 Pahalgam attack.
So far, nine soldiers have been injured in the prolonged operation, four of them on Friday alone. Security forces believe more militants are still hiding in the dense forest, and intermittent firing continues.
Operation Akhal is a joint effort by the Indian Army, CRPF, and Jammu and Kashmir Police’s Special Operations Group (SOG). Army officials have reiterated that the operation will continue until all hiding terrorists are neutralised.
The sacrifice of Lance Naik Pritpal Singh and Sepoy Harminder Singh has plunged their villages into mourning, with locals preparing to give them a hero’s farewell.
