Pulwama attack: Prime Minister Narendra Modi pays tribute to the 40 CRPF personnel killed in the Valley. (PTI/File)
On the first anniversary of the deadly Pulwama terror attack, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday said the country will never forget the sacrifice of the 40 CRPF personnel who were killed after an explosive-laden vehicle rammed into their convoy in the Jammu and Kashmir district last year. The Jaish-e-Mohammad had claimed responsibility for the attack.
Taking to Twitter, Modi said, “Tributes to the brave martyrs who lost their lives in the gruesome Pulwama attack last year. They were exceptional individuals who devoted their lives to serving and protecting our nation. India will never forget their martyrdom.”
Tributes to the brave martyrs who lost their lives in the gruesome Pulwama attack last year. They were exceptional individuals who devoted their lives to serving and protecting our nation. India will never forget their martyrdom.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) February 14, 2020
Speaking on similar lines, Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, “Remembering the fallen CRPF personnel who were martyred during the dastardly attack in Pulwama (J&K) on this day in 2019. India will never forget their sacrifice. Entire nation stands united against terrorism and we are committed to continue our fight against this menace.”
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, however, asked what was the result of the inquiry into the incident and who was held accountable. He asked who in the BJP government had been held accountable for the security lapses that allowed the attack.
“Today as we remember our 40 CRPF martyrs in the #PulwamaAttack, let us ask: 1. Who benefitted the most from the attack? 2. What is the outcome of the inquiry into the attack? 3. Who in the BJP Govt has yet been held accountable for the security lapses that allowed the attack?” Gandhi wrote on Twitter.
Paying tribute to the soldiers, Union Home Minister Amit Shah tweeted, “India will forever be grateful of our bravehearts and their families”. “I pay homage to the martyrs of Pulwama attack. India will forever be grateful of our bravehearts and their families who made supreme sacrifice for the sovereignty and integrity of our motherland,” he posted on the micro-blogging site.
“Solemnly remembering the CRPF jawans martyred in Pulwama on this day in 2019 after a terror attack. We salute our brave jawans and extend our solidarity and condolences to their families. Jai Hind,” West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said.
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A memorial for the 40 CRPF personnel will be inaugurated at the Lethpora camp on Friday, a top official said. “It is a way to pay homage to the brave jawans who lost their lives in the attack,” Additional Director General of CRPF Zulfiquar Hasan was quoted as saying by PTI on Thursday.
The NIA had last September filed a charge sheet claiming that JeM’s Sajjad Ahmad Khan, a close aide of Pulwama attack mastermind Mudassir Ahmad Khan, was conspiring terror acts across India.
The names of all the 40 personnel along with their pictures will be part of the memorial along with the moto of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) — ‘Seva and Nishtha’ (Service and Loyalty).
“It definitely was an unfortunate incident and we have learnt our lessons now. We were always extra alert during our movement but now an extra layer of alertness has been added to it,” Hasan said.
On Wednesday, the National Investigation Agency filed a chargesheet against four JeM aides of Pulwama attack mastermind, in a case of conspiring for terror acts across the country.