LG, CM pay tribute to martyrs
STATE TIMES NEWS
SRINAGAR: Two Army soldiers were martyred and as many injured in an overnight gunfight with terrorists in Kulgam district, in one of the longest anti-terror operations in the Valley that entered the ninth day on Saturday, officials said.
Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah paid tributes to two Army soldiers martyred in an overnight gunfight, saying their grit and determination will never be forgotten.
“I salute the indomitable courage of our bravehearts, 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,” Sinha said.
Chief Minister Abdullah visited the Chinar Corps headquarters at Badamibagh in Srinagar, where he laid a wreath in the honour of the martyred soldiers.
“Chief Minister laid the wreath and paid rich tribute to the brave soldiers who made ultimate sacrifice at Kulgam.” Abdullah’s office said in a post on X.
Expressing deep sorrow and gratitude, the Chief Minister said that the sacrifices of these valiant soldiers would always be remembered.
He reiterated his government’s unwavering support for the armed forces and their families.
Minister for Food, Civil Supplies & Consumer Affairs, Transport, Information Technology, Youth Services and Sports, Satish Sharma, In his condolence message, said, “I salute the indomitable courage and selfless devotion of our brave hearts L/Nk Pritpal Singh and Sep Harminder Singh, who laid down their lives in the service of the motherland. Their valour, grit and unwavering determination will always be remembered with pride by the entire nation.”
Expressing deep sorrow over the loss, Satish Sharma extended heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families. “In this hour of grief, my thoughts and prayers are with the families of these martyrs. The people of Jammu & Kashmir and the entire country stand shoulder to shoulder with them, sharing their pain and pride,” he added.
The Army’s Srinagar-based Chinar Corps, in a post on X, also paid tributes to the soldiers martyred in the encounter and said that the operation was still underway.
Two terrorists have been martyred in the encounter that began on August 1 after security forces launched a cordon and search operation in a forest at Akhal in the south Kashmir district, following specific intelligence inputs about the presence of terrorists there.
The identity and the group affiliation of the slain terrorists have not been ascertained so far.
In a post on X on Saturday, the Chinar Corps said, “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.”
The Army said it stands in solidarity with the bereaved families. “The operation continues,” it added.
Officials said two other soldiers were injured in the overnight firing, taking the number of injured security forces personnel to nine.
Senior police and Army officers, including the Jammu and Kashmir Police chief Nalin Prabhat, and the Army’s Northern Commander Lt Gen Pratik Sharma, are closely monitoring the operation round-the-clock, officials said.
Security forces have pressed drones and helicopters into service to track the terrorists down in the forest area. Para commandos were also assisting the security forces in neutralising the hiding ultras.