Sajid Raina
Srinagar, Feb 14: Prime Minister Narendra Modi led from the front on Friday to pay tributes to 40 Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel who lost their lives in a terror attack in South Kashmir’s Pulwama district on this day in 2019.
On the sixth anniversary of the attack, PM Modi, posted on X: “Homage to the courageous heroes we lost in Pulwama in 2019. The coming generations will never forget their sacrifice and their unwavering dedication to the nation.”
Home Minister Amit Shah said that the Narendra Modi government is determined to completely destroy terrorists by carrying out a campaign with a “zero-tolerance” policy against them. “On behalf of a grateful nation, I pay my heartfelt tribute to the soldiers who were martyred in the cowardly terror attack in Pulwama on this day in 2019,” Shah wrote in Hindi on X.
“Terrorism is the biggest enemy of the entire humanity and the whole world has united against it,” the Home Minister added.
“Be it through a surgical strike or an air strike, the Modi government is determined to completely destroy terrorists by carrying out a campaign with a ‘zero-tolerance’ policy against them,” Shah said.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh also paid homage to the soldiers. “On this day in 2019, India lost our brave CRPF personnel in a gruesome terrorist attack in Pulwama. Their sacrifice for the nation will never be forgotten. I pay homage to them and offer unwavering support to their families. India stands united in honouring their valor and we remain resolute in our fight against terrorism,” he wrote on X.
J&K Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha paid rich tributes to the fallen jawans and posted on X: “Heartfelt tribute to the courageous martyrs of the heinous Pulwama attack of 2019. Their supreme sacrifice in the service of the motherland will forever be remembered. The courage & selfless commitment of our gallant heroes will continue to inspire generations,”
Army’s Srinagar based Chinar Corps honoured the unwavering spirit of the CRPF on the Pulwama attack anniversary.
“Chinar Warriors pay obeisance to the CRPF Bravehearts, who laid down their lives in the line of duty during the Pulwama attack. Their sacrifice will forever be etched in our hearts. Saluting the unyielding spirit of CRPF, who continue to brave the toughest challenges to safeguard our Nation and ensure peace and development in Kashmir,” Army said in a post on X.
Meanwhile, the CRPF organized a solemn ceremony at Lethpora (site of the incident) to remember the fallen jawans. Officers from all forces and civil administration were present on the occasion.”A solemn ceremony was organised at Lethpora-Pulwama to pay homage and respect to the martyrs of CRPF who attained martyrdom in line of duty on 14/2/2019 in Pulwama,” a CRPF spokesman said in a statement.
Several local BJP leaders also paid floral tributes to the CRPF jawans at Lethpora.
Pertinently, Forty CRPF jawans laid down their lives when a JeM suicide bomber rammed an explosive laden car into a CRPF convoy at Lethpora-Pulwama on Jammu-Srinagar National Highway on February 14 in 2019.
It may be recalled that the sheer scale of the explosion and the loss of lives sent shockwaves across the country, sparking nationwide mourning and demands for strict action against the perpetrators.
In response, Prime Minister Narendra Modi assured the nation that the sacrifice of the soldiers would not go in vain.
Just 12 days after the Pulwama terror attack, on the night of February 25, 2019, India launched an airstrike on terrorist camps in Balakot, Pakistan. The Pulwama terror attack had brought India and Pakistan at the brink of war.
