Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid tribute to the 40 CRPF personnel who lost their lives in the Pulwama terror attack in 2019, marking the incident’s five-year anniversary. He stated, “I pay homage to the brave heroes who were martyred in Pulwama. Their service and sacrifice for our nation will always be remembered.”
On February 14, 2019, a suicide bomber attacked a security convoy in Pulwama, killing 40 Indian soldiers. In response, the Indian Air Force conducted airstrikes on February 26, 2019, targeting Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) terror camps in Pakistan’s Balakot. This action resulted in the destruction of terrorist infrastructure and the elimination of a “large number” of terrorists.
During the ensuing confrontation, Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman engaged Pakistani jets in a dogfight, leading to his aircraft being shot down over PoK. He was captured by Pakistan but later released. India also shot down a Pakistani fighter jet.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and Union Ministers Rajeev Chandrasekhar and Kiren Rijiju also paid tribute to the fallen soldiers, praising their courage and sacrifice. Congress Leader Rahul Gandhi saluted the martyrs, acknowledging their supreme sacrifice in defense of India.