Pulwama Attack Anniversary: 'Won't Forget CRPF Jawans’ Martyrdom', Says PM Modi

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).

Photo: PTI

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Home Minister Amit Shah today honoured the soldiers who died in the Pulwama terror attack in February last year. Around 3:00 pm on this day, last year, around 40 CRPF personnel were killed when their convoy was targeted by the suicide bomber of Pakistan-backed Jaish-e-Mohammed in Pulwama district. "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," PM Modi tweeted.

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

Jammu and Kashmir: The soil collected by Maharashtra's Umesh Gopinath Jadhav from the houses and cremation grounds of the 40 CRPF jawans who lost their lives in 2019 #PulwamaAttack, being placed at the memorial at CRPF's Lethpora camp. https://t.co/jbr8PaCFci pic.twitter.com/G6C35yQhG2

— ANI (@ANI) February 14, 2020

A memorial to the 40 CRPF personnel killed in the Pulwama terror attack, was inaugurated at the Lethpora camp today. The names of all the 40 personnel along with their pictures are a part of the memorial along with the moto of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) -- 'Seva and Nishtha' (Service and Loyalty).

Jammu and Kashmir: Tributes being paid to the 40 CRPF jawans who lost their lives in #PulwamaAttack last year, at the memorial at CRPF's Lethpora camp, in Srinagar. pic.twitter.com/9aAxF5cbhE

— ANI (@ANI) February 14, 2020

"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 said told PTI. The names of all the 40 soldiers along with their pictures will be part of the memorial. "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," Mr Hasan said.

Umesh Gopinath Jadhav: I'm proud that I met all the families of Pulwama martyrs, and sought their blessings. Parents lost their son, wives lost their husbands, children lost their fathers, friends lost their friends. I collected soil from their houses & their cremation grounds." https://t.co/b7A0ubGuyu pic.twitter.com/1DR0fLWxtc

— ANI (@ANI) February 14, 2020

Union Home Minister Amit Shah paid his homage to the brave-hearts of Pulwama attack today. "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," tweeted Amit Shah.

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. — Amit Shah (@AmitShah) February 14, 2020

Defence minister Rajnath Singh also tweeted a tribute. “Remembering the fallen @crpfindia 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.”

Remembering the fallen @crpfindia 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. — Rajnath Singh (@rajnathsingh) February 14, 2020

Tensions flared up between India and Pakistan after the convoy of 78 buses, in which around 2500 CRPF personnel were traveling from Jammu to Srinagar, came under attack. Nationwide protests erupted against the dastardly terror attack even as the country bid goodbye to its bravehearts. Leaders across the party lines and civil society condemned the attack and called for an appropriate response.