Prime Minister Narendra Modi solemnly paid tribute to the courageous heroes who made the ultimate sacrifice in the Pulwama attack of 2019. In a heartfelt statement, PM Modi expressed reverence for the 40 Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel who lost their lives in the cowardly act of terror.
“Their service and sacrifice for our nation will always be remembered,” affirmed PM Modi, highlighting the indelible mark left by the martyrs on the collective conscience of the nation.
The Pulwama attack, occurring on 14 February 2019, shook the nation to its core when a convoy of CRPF personnel was targeted by a vehicle-borne suicide bomber in the Pulwama district of Jammu and Kashmir. The perpetrator, Adil Ahmad Dar, a local Kashmiri youth, carried out the heinous act on behalf of the Pakistan-based terrorist group Jaish-e-Mohammed.
India’s unequivocal condemnation of the attack, coupled with its attribution to Pakistan, escalated tensions between the two nuclear-armed neighbors, leading to the 2019 India-Pakistan military standoff.
“Subsequent investigations by Indian authorities identified and neutralized several individuals linked to the attack, underscoring the government’s commitment to ensuring justice for the fallen soldiers”.
However, revelations of security lapses preceding the attack raised pertinent questions about intelligence failures and administrative accountability. Former Jammu and Kashmir Governor Satya Pal Malik disclosed allegations that PM Modi had urged him to withhold information regarding security lapses, sparking controversy and calls for transparency in governance.
As the nation commemorates the sacrifice of the Pulwama martyrs, PM Modi’s homage serves as a poignant reminder of the unwavering resolve to safeguard the nation’s sovereignty and uphold the valor of its armed forces.
