New Delhi, Feb 14: Prime Minister Narendra Modi led the nation to pay homage to the CRPF personnel who lost their lives in a suicide attack in Pulwama on this day in 2019.
“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,” he said in a post on X.
Joining PM Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah paid rich tribute to the 40 CRPF personnel killed in the attack.
“On behalf of the 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 human race, and the whole world has united against it. Be it a surgical strike or air strike, the Modi government is determined to completely destroy the terrorists by running a campaign with a ‘zero tolerance’ policy against them,” Shah said.
Shah said the airstrikes were a fitting reply to Pakistan after the Pulwama attack that killed 40 Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel on this day in 2019.
“The airstrikes were a fitting reply. On this day in 2019, we lost 40 of our jawans in Pulwama. Their sacrifice strengthened the security of our borders. I pay my heartfelt tribute to them. The airstrikes that followed were a strong response from Prime Minister Narendra Modi against terrorism,” he said
On February 14, 2019, a suicide bomber attacked a CRPF convoy in Pulwama, Jammu and Kashmir, resulting in the deaths of 40 personnel.
The Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammed claimed responsibility for the attack. In response, on February 26, 2019, the Indian Air Force said it conducted airstrikes targeting a JeM training camp in Balakot, Pakistan. This incident significantly heightened tensions between India and Pakistan—(KNO)
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh also paid tributes, highlighting the nation’s commitment to honoring the fallen 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 honoring their valor, and we remain resolute in our fight against terrorism,” Singh said.
On February 14, 2019, a suicide bomber rammed an explosive-laden vehicle into a CRPF convoy on the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway in Pulwama district. The attack, carried out by Pakistan-based terror group Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), claimed the lives of 40 soldiers and left many others injured.
The incident led to heightened tensions between India and Pakistan, culminating in the Balakot air strikes on February 26, 2019, where the Indian Air Force targeted JeM training camps across the border.
On the anniversary of the attack, security has been beefed up across Jammu and Kashmir. Additional forces have been deployed in sensitive areas, and a high alert has been issued to prevent any untoward incidents.
Meanwhile, government officials reiterated their commitment to ensuring the safety of security personnel and strengthening counter-terrorism efforts in the region.