Two soldiers were killed in an overnight gunfight between security personnel and terrorists in the Kulgam region of Jammu and Kashmir as operation Akhal continues on Day 9, officials said on Saturday. Out of four soldiers who sustained injuries, two succumbed to it.
The Indian army expressed deepest condolences on the grave loss and stood in solidarity with bereaved families. According to information provided by the Chinar Corps of the Indian Army, Lance/Naik Pritpal Singh and Sepoy Harminder Singh lost their lives in one of the longest-running anti-terror operations in the valley.
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Operation AKHAL, Kulgam | Lance/Naik Pritpal Singh and Sepoy Harminder Singh made supreme sacrifice.
Indian Army expresses deepest condolences and stands in solidarity with the bereaved families. Operation continues: Chinar Corps, Indian Army pic.twitter.com/WtabIZ6Mf0
— ANI (@ANI) August 9, 2025
“Chinar Corps honours the supreme sacrifice of the Bravehearts, L/Nk Pritpal Singh and Sep Harminder Singh, in line of duty for the Nation. Their courage and dedication will forever inspire us. Indian Army expresses deepest condolences and stand in solidarity with the bereaved families. Operation continues,” Chinar Corps posted on X.
So far, one terrorist has been neutralised, ANI reported.
The Indian Army, Jammu and Kashmir police, CRPF, and the Special Operations Group (SOG) are carrying out a joint anti-terror operation in the Akhal area of South Kashmir’s Kulgam district. “OP AKHAL, Kulgam. Intermittent and intense firefight continued through the night. Alert troops responded with calibrated fire and tightened the noose while maintaining contact,” Chinar Corps of Indian Army said in an X post.
The area has seen intense fighting between the Army and heavily armed Lashkar-e-Taiba militants, with continuous firing and explosions day and night. The militants are equipped with night-vision devices and long-range rifles.
The operation Akhal began on August 1, after security forces received a tip-off that terrorists with heavy arms were present in the Akhal area of Southern Kashmir. Forces launched a cordon and search operation in the forest.