'They Are Now At Peace': Kin of Pahalgam Attack Victims Hail Operation Sindoor

Families of victims killed in the 22 April Pahalgam attack lauded India's retaliatory strike, Operation Sindoor.

(Photo: PTI)

Families of the victims killed in the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack lauded India's retaliatory strike, Operation Sindoor, as the government calls it, with statements of support and demands for further action against terrorism.

Asavari Jagdale, who lost her father Santosh in the attack, said, “I thank our Indian Government that we have taken revenge within 15 days of the attack. Now, I think the 26 people who died, their souls would rest in peace because of this revenge.”

She added that terrorism should be fully cleared so that such attacks do not recur.

His recently widowed wife added that the name Operation Sindoor itself is rightly chosen, as the Pahalgam Attack wiped the sindoor off their foreheads.

Harshal Lele, who lost his father and two uncles, said, “I would like to say that my father, two uncles and the other victims of the attack would have found peace now that this has happened. I demand that every terrorist should be destroyed.”

Arathy, daughter of N Ramachandran, told PTI that the strike was "a relief". "It's like wiping our tears, but I don't think that will happen because the loss cannot be compensated."

She said that unlike the attackers who targeted unarmed Indian tourists on their soil itself, India targeted terrorist camps, and not civilians. The terrorists spared the women and children there, but they killed the men, and the name Sindoor seems a fitting reply from the women of India.

Syed Haider Shah, father of Syed Adil Hussain Shah, the only Kashmiri who died protecting the tourists told PTI: “Today I am happy that the army and Narendra Modi have taken revenge for those 26 civilians and I hope they find peace now.”

Ashanya Dwivedi, wife of businessman Shubham Dwivedi, while expressing gratitude, gave a bitter reminder. She said, “You cannot bring back our loved ones, but you have proved that you will avenge their death.” She added, “This is a war against terrorism, not against Pakistan. Wherever they are, be it in Hindustan or Pakistan, they should be killed.”

Sabri Guha, wife of Sameer Guha, who watched her husband die in the attack, said:

“It had to happen. Such a big incident occurred in Pahalgam. Our government has conducted strikes, but I demand a complete attack to be carried out, not just in the valley but the entirety of Pakistan. Because if the whole of Pakistan is not attacked, this will continue happening as it did on 22nd April," she told PTI.

On April 22, in the Baisaran valley, a group of tourists was ambushed by the terrorists, who killed 26 civilians. Most of the men were targeted, while women and children were spared. In response, India launched Operation Sindoor on 7 May, targeting nine terrorist camps across the Line of Control.

Tensions continue to escalate between India and Pakistan after the the Indian Armed Forces in the wee hours of Wednesday, 7 May,  targeted 21 terror camps across nine locations in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied-Kashmir (PoK) as it executed Operation Sindoor. The operation was conducted in retaliation to the 22 April terror attack in Pahalgam.

In a press briefing, Col Sofiya Qureshi and Wing Commander Vyomika Singh provided details of the strikes, explaining why the targets were chosen. One of the sites targeted is also believed to have served as a training camp for 26/11 terrorists Ajmal Kasab and David Headley.

Meanwhile, exchange of fire between the two countries continued across the LoC since the operation, with at least 10 Indian civilians allegedly having been killed in Poonch district so far.