Srinagar, February 14 – On the seventh anniversary of the Pulwama terror attack on Saturday, a memorial service was held in Lethpora, in the Pulwama district of Jammu and Kashmir, to honor the martyrs.
Officials stated, "A memorial ceremony was held at the Martyrs Memorial by the 185th Battalion of the CRPF in Lethpora to commemorate the seventh anniversary of the Pulwama attack."
"The solemn ceremony was attended by Gyanendra Pratap Singh, an IPS officer and Director General of CRPF; Rajesh Kumar, an IPS officer and Additional Director General (Jammu and Kashmir Zone) of CRPF; Vineet Brij Lal, an IPS officer and Inspector General of CRPF (Kashmir Operations Sector); Pawan Kumar Sharma, Inspector General of CRPF (Srinagar Sector); officers from CRPF, the Army, BSF, ITBP, SSB, the Jammu and Kashmir Police, and the local administration."
"A poignant wreath-laying ceremony was followed by a blood donation camp, which received overwhelming support from volunteers. The event was commemorated with a solemn memorial ceremony. Officers, dignitaries, and soldiers paid heartfelt tributes to the martyrs at the Martyrs Memorial in Lethpora, followed by a dignified salute from the CRPF Ceremonial Guard. A one-minute silence was observed, accompanied by the mournful sound of a bugle, as a mark of respect for the martyrs."
"The atmosphere was heavy with emotion as the gathering remembered the ultimate sacrifice made by the brave soldiers who gave their lives in the line of duty. The ceremony was a poignant tribute to the martyrs, and the sense of reverence and gratitude was palpable," officials added.
"As a heartfelt tribute to the martyrs, the CRPF organized a blood donation camp, a tradition upheld every year. The event saw enthusiastic participation from all officers and soldiers, who voluntarily donated blood, collectively contributing more than 100 units to the Shri Maharaja Hari Singh hospital in Srinagar," officials said.
The Pulwama terror attack occurred on February 14, 2019, when a convoy of vehicles carrying Indian security personnel on the Jammu-Srinagar highway was attacked by a vehicle-borne suicide bomber in Lethpora, Pulwama district.
The terror attack resulted in the death of 40 CRPF personnel, as well as the perpetrator, Adil Ahmad Dar, who was a local youth from the Pulwama district.
The responsibility for the terror attack was claimed by the Pakistan-based terror group, Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM).
The attack dealt a severe blow to India-Pakistan relations, subsequently leading to the 2019 India-Pakistan military standoff.
Subsequently, Indian investigations identified 19 accused.
By August 2021, the main accused along with six others had been killed, and seven had been arrested.