Pulwama Martyr’s Day: CRPF remembers its bravehearts

CRPF organised a wreath-laying ceremony in memory of its martyrs in the Pulwama attack

SRINAGAR | Updated: 14 February, 2023 4:49 pm IST

The fourth anniversary of the Pulwama terror attack was observed on the lawns of the 185 BN CRPF in Lethpora, Pulwama

A wreath-laying ceremony by the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) was organised at the CRPF Martyrs Memorial at Lethpora in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pulwama in honour of the 40 bravehearts who died in the ghastly terrorist attack on February 14, 2019.

Daljit Singh Chawdhary, IPS ADG J&K Zone, CRPF and MS Bhatia, IG, Kashmir Ops Sector, along with senior officers from other Security Forces and the administration, laid down ceremonial wreaths.

MS Bhatia, IG, Kashmir Ops Sector, said, “The nation will always remain indebted to the soldiers who valiantly fought and laid down their lives to safeguard the sovereignty and integrity of our country.”

IG Bhatia also spoke about the remarkable improvement in the security scenario post abrogation of Article 370, the challenges being faced in recent times and the numerous successes that have been achieved by the CRPF against terrorists, including the demolition of the terrorist ecosystem.

He also spoke about the various steps that have been undertaken for strengthening the security grid, convoy management, operational synergy between the Security Forces, modernization of the CRPF, leveraging of technology and use of other force multipliers to prevent attacks on security forces and carry out a relentless offensive against the terror ecosystem.

Additional Director General of Police (ADGP) Kashmir Zone, Vijay Kumar, said that out of 19 terrorists involved in the attack, eight have been killed and seven have been arrested. Four terrorists, including three from Pakistan, are still on the run.

According to ADGP Kumar, the security forces are pursuing Jaish-e-Muhammad and have neutralised nearly all of their top commanders.

“At present, JeM has only 7-8 locals and 5-6 active Pakistanis, including Mossa Solaimani,” ADGP Kumar said after the wreath-laying ceremony.

ADGP Kumar also said the cases registered against overground workers (OGWs) involved in such activities are being disposed of at a rapid pace. “The number of such cases has reduced from 1600 in October last year to 950 at present and 13 convictions have also been made so far,” he added.

ADGP Kumar further said that a total of 37 local terrorists are presently active, with most of them joining the terror groups recently.

On this occasion, a blood donation camp was also organised in memory of the martyrs, where 75 CRPF personnel donated blood.