NEW DELHI: On Saturday, the Defence Ministry clarified that the information surrounding the deaths of six military personnel during Operation Sindoor, conducted from May 7-10, 2025, was never concealed from the public. The ministry emphasized that during a press briefing held shortly after operations against Pakistan were paused, the then Director General of Military Operations openly acknowledged the loss of both armed forces and civilian lives.

“These bravehearts were awarded gallantry honors, as confirmed in a press release from August 14, 2025,” the ministry noted. It also highlighted that tributes to these individuals were promptly shared across the Army’s official social media channels.

Countering Misleading Claims

The ministry dismissed allegations circulating on social media and in certain media reports suggesting that Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, in his statement to Parliament on July 28, denied the deaths of service personnel during the military engagement with Pakistan.

“These posts are deliberately misleading and factually incorrect,” the ministry asserted. “Those who have attempted to create controversy from the Raksha Mantri’s parliamentary address have intentionally overlooked the complete context of his remarks.”

Context of Minister’s Remarks

It was noted that during the minister’s address, a misleading narrative had been proliferating in certain media and social platforms, asserting that Indian pilots were lost in Operation Sindoor. The ministry characterized this narrative as false and amplified with the intent of undermining the operation’s success and affecting public morale negatively.

“It was in direct reference to this specific and mischievous narrative that the Raksha Mantri made the statement in question. His remarks were thus a targeted and contextually specific response to a falsehood that was gaining dangerous traction at that moment,” the ministry concluded.

This clarity from the Defence Ministry aims to dispel misconceptions and reaffirm the sacrifices made by military personnel during the operation.