‘Our World’s Come to an End’: Kin Mourn Death of CRPF Jawans

Video Editor: Ashutosh Bhardwaj

“What is the government doing to fix the situation?”, “what would we do with the government’s money?”, “how will we make ends meet now?” are some of the questions raised by the families of the CRPF jawans who lost their lives in the Pulwama attack on Thursday, 14 February.

At least 40 jawans were killed in a deadly attack by the Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) on a convoy of CRPF jawans in Pulwama’s Awantipora area on Thursday.

Father of martyr Ramesh Yadav is now left with Ramesh’s wife and two-year-old son in Varanasi’s Milkopur. As he mourns his son’s death he wonders how he will make ends meet now.

“Pakistan should be given a befitting reply. No government does anything to fix the situation. We were informed that his body has not been found. It has been over 24 hours no one has come here to offer help. He was the only support system. He would take care of the expenditures of the house. How will we make ends meet now?”

Shyam Narayan, Father of Martyr Ramesh Yadav

In Punjab’s Moga, wife of Martyr Jaimal Singh, Sukhjit Kaur, says she has lost faith in the government, adding, “such attacks have taken place before, what has the government done to help?’’

“What would we say to Pakistan? Our world has come to an end. We don’t wish to say anything to anyone. They’ll check on us for four days after that they won’t bother. We have no demand from the government. Such attacks have taken place before what has the government done for anyone? They would do it for four days only. We don’t need money or anything from the government. What would we do with the money? Our life has become hell. What will we do with the money?”

Sukhjit Kaur, Wife of Martyr Jaimal Singh

Another martyred jawan, Ram Vakeel from Etawah is survived by his wife and three children. His wife says Vakeel had plans to get a new house built in April.

“He had come home on Sunday. He was here for six days. There was heavy snowfall and roads were jammed, so we told him to extend his leave. He said he can’t do that so I told him he could take leave in April which is when we start construction of our house. He said that he will return soon and get the loan to start the construction.”   

Martyr Ram Vakeel’s wife   

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday, 15 February laid wreaths on the mortal remains of the CRPF jawans martyred in the Pulwama attack.

Chief of Army Staff General Bipin Rawat, Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Sunil Lanba, Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal BS Dhanoa, Home Minister Rajnath Singh and Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman also paid their respects. Congress President Rahul Gandhi, too, paid tribute.

The mortal remains of the CRPF jawans arrived at the Delhi airport on Friday.

Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh said he has ordered all necessary steps to be taken in the backdrop of the attack, and the morale of the jawans has not taken a hit.

Condemning the attack earlier in the day, PM Modi said the forces behind the terror attack will be punished, warning Pakistan that it is "making a big mistake.” Meanwhile, Congress President Rahul Gandhi extended support to the government and said that the "entire Opposition stands with the government and the jawans.”