Modi leads nation in paying tributes to Pulwama martyrs

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday led the nation in paying tributes to the 40 CRPF personnel who were killed in the Pulwama suicide bombing in 2019.

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“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,” Modi wrote on X.

On February 14, 2019, a suicide bomber of JeM, Adil Dar, rammed his explosive-laden car into a CRPF convoy bus at Lethpora on the national highway leaving 40 personnel dead. The terror attack escalated tensions between India and Pakistan with the Indian Air Force crossing into Pakistani airspace and striking a JeM camp at Balakot on February 26. The next day, Pakistani fighter jets also launched a retaliatory strike in the Jammu sector.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah said on X: “On behalf of the grateful nation, I pay my heartfelt tribute to the soldiers who were martyred in the cowardly terrorist attack in Pulwama on this day in 2019. Terrorism is the biggest enemy of the entire human race and the whole world has united against it. Be it a surgical strike or an air strike, the Modi government is determined to completely destroy terrorists by running a campaign with a ‘zero-tolerance’ policy against them.”

Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Friday also paid homage to the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel who lost their lives.

“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 and selfless commitment of our gallant heroes will continue to inspire generations,” the L-G said in a post on X.

In the Valley, the CRPF said senior officials paid homage to soldiers at Lethpora, Pulwama. A CRPF spokesman said in a statement that a solemn ceremony was organised at Lethpora to pay homage to the martyrs. “Officers from all forces and civil administration attended the solemn ceremony,” he said.

The Army’s Srinagar-based Chinar Corps said the sacrifice of the personnel would forever be etched in their hearts. “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,” the Army said in a post on X. “Saluting the unyielding spirit of the CRPF, who continue to brave the toughest challenges to safeguard our nation and ensure peace and development in Kashmir.”

Meanwhile, the BJP J&K unit on Friday also paid tribute to the CRPF personnel.