Pulwama Attack: The country suffered pain on February 14, 2019, but if someone teases, will not leave, has also set an example

Although the day of February 14 is dedicated to love and people know it as Valentine’s Day, but the day of February 14, 2019 was very painful for India because on this day 40 CRPF personnel were killed in the terrorist attack in Pulwama, Jammu and Kashmir. Were martyred. India has taken revenge for the Pulwama attack, but the pain of the attack on the CRPF bus is still there. Today the country is paying tribute to the martyrs of Pulwama with moist eyes. Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted, “We remember our brave heroes whom we lost on this day in Pulwama.” He wrote, “We will never forget their supreme sacrifice. Their courage inspires us to build a strong and developed India.”

Let us remind you that a suicide bomber detonated his vehicle after ramming it into a CRPF convoy, which claimed the lives of more than 40 soldiers. In response, the Indian Air Force targeted terrorist camps in Balakot, Pakistan.

Remember the day of February 14, 2019, let us tell you that it was a Thursday and everything was going on normally till about 3.30 in the afternoon. On that day, the CRPF jawans, who had returned home after a holiday, were going towards Srinagar riding in buses, singing songs and joking with each other, when suddenly a vehicle collided with a convoy of CRPF jawans in Pulwama, Kashmir, and there was a huge explosion. Later, mutilated bodies started appearing on the road. The scene was such that no one could see it. If seen, this was the biggest attack on soldiers in Kashmir in three decades. The whole country was shocked by this attack.

The attack was carried out by 20-year-old terrorist Adil Ahmed Dar. Adil Ahmad Dar, who was carrying more than 350 kg of explosives, rammed his vehicle into a CRPF convoy bus. When Adil Ahmad Dar collided with his car from the 5th bus included in the convoy of 78 vehicles, the bus and Adil Ahmad Dar himself were blown away. There was a pile of dead bodies and blood all around. The explosion caused by the collision was so tremendous that for some time there was silence in the entire area. By the time the jawans in other vehicles regained consciousness, the whole scene of the incident had become extremely frightening. In this attack, 40 soldiers were martyred and many were seriously injured who are still fighting for their lives. Seeing the scene of Pulwama attack, the whole country was emotional and outraged by the attack. In no time, people across the country came out on the streets, the blood of youth started boiling, all political parties showed solidarity and demanded to teach Pakistan a lesson, the whole world condemned this incident, not only this, CRPF jawans also marched in many cities. Justifying the rising anger in the country, Prime Minister Narendra Modi assured that the Pulwama attack will be avenged, said that the terrorists have committed a huge mistake and need to decide the time and place to punish them. The authority has been given to the army. The Prime Minister clearly said that I swear I will not let the country bow down to this soil.

On one hand the Modi government gave free hand to the army and on the other hand it started increasing diplomatic pressure on Pakistan, the status of Most Favored Nation was also taken away from Pakistan. The then President of America, Donald Trump himself, lambasted Pakistan and warned that India is going to do something big. At that time, the eyes of the whole country were focused on the steps of the government and the army. On the other hand, NIA and other security agencies were involved in the investigation of Pulwama attack. Since the Lok Sabha elections were about to be held in the country, the opposition started besieging the Modi government by calling the Pulwama attack an intelligence failure and national security suddenly became the biggest issue.

Soon after the attack, responsibility was taken by Jaish-e-Mohammed. Jaish-e-Mohammed also released a video of Adil which revealed that Adil was a resident of Kakapora and had joined Jaish a year back. Security forces were quick to nab the masterminds of the attack and the first success came on February 18 when the army killed two Jaish-e-Muhammad commanders responsible for the Pulwama attack. The two slain commanders were identified as Abdul Rashid Ghazi and Kamran. Among them Ghazi was a relative of terrorist Azhar Masood. For this success, the army had to give the martyrdom of four of its soldiers. Immediately after the Pulwama attack, encounters with terrorists started at various places in Jammu and Kashmir and terrorists were killed, but during this some of our soldiers were also martyred. When the mutilated bodies of 40 CRPF jawans were reaching their villages and homes, the whole atmosphere was filled with sorrow and anger. Amid slogans of Bharat Mata Ki Jai and Pakistan Murdabad, pressure was being mounted on the government to avenge the attack and bring 400 heads instead of 40. On the other hand, the government was also engaged in the preparation of a major operation with full concentration.

Finally, in the month of February itself, the day came on 26th when the Indian Air Force destroyed the terrorist camps of Jaish-e-Mohammed located at Jabba Top in Balakot while taking a major action on Pakistan. The Indian Air Force had sent 12 Mirage-2000 fighter jets to attack in Balakot. On February 26, at 3.30 am, 12 Mirage-2000 took off from several air bases. These fighter jets entered Pakistani territory and started bombing Jaish-e-Mohammed’s terrorist bases in Balakot, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. According to reports, 5 Spice 2000 bombs were hurled at the terrorists’ hideouts. Out of this, 4 bombs fell on the buildings where the terrorists were sleeping. After the attack, all the Indian Air Force aircraft returned safely to their airbase. A special thing during this attack was that when Miraj fighter planes were sending the terrorists on a trip to Jannat, at that time some Miraj and Sukhoi planes were engaged in diverting the attention of Pakistani Air Force.

Pakistan was shocked by this attack and it was the first to inform the world that Indian Air Force planes had entered its territory. Instead of showing its wounds to the world, Pakistan, moaning with pain, said that Indian planes dropped bombs in the fields and only a few trees were damaged. Pakistan did not lie only about India’s attack. On 26 February, after nursing its wounds for the whole day, Pakistan told another big lie on 27 February 2019 to rise in the eyes of its people. After the airstrike in Balakot, Pakistan tried to enter the Indian airspace the next day, but the Indian Air Force personnel chased them out. Pakistan spread the lie that we shot down the Indian plane and captured two Indian Air Force men. Whereas what happened was that on February 27, when Pakistan carried out an airstrike in Indian territory, the Indian Air Force gave a befitting reply. The Air Force shot down Pakistan’s F-16 fighter jet. However, during this time the MiG-21 aircraft of the Indian Air Force fell victim to the accident and the pilot Wing Commander Abhinandan flying it was caught in the occupied territory of Pakistan. The Pakistanis attacked Wing Commander Abhinandan and then he was captured by the Pakistani Army. But this is New India, which is strong, which knows how to protect every Indian. In the case of Abhinandan, Pakistan came down on its knees within two to four hours and Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan announced in the Parliament that we will release Abhinandan and finally Abhinandan was released with full respect. After the Balakot air strike, when India handed over the evidence of the misuse of American fighter aircraft F-16 by Pakistan to the world, it was not able to show its face to anyone.

However, four years have passed since the Pulwama attack. During this one year, India has become more powerful militarily and has succeeded in bringing the situation there under control by abolishing the special status of Jammu and Kashmir. But Pakistan does not believe it, it keeps promoting terrorism by infiltrating India from across the border every now and then. But no matter how much training the terrorists have received, our jawans are fully prepared to give a befitting reply to their every move. It can also be said that the country has suffered pain on February 14, 2019, but if someone teases, it will not leave, it has also set an example.

-Gautam Morarka