Srinagar
A memorial was inaugurated and floral tributes were paid to the slain CRPF personnel killed in Lethpora attack on February 14, 2019.
Reports said that a memorial to the 40 CRPF personnel was inaugurated at Lethpora camp today. The names of all the 40 personnel is part of the memorial along with the motto of CRPF ‘Seva and Nishtha’ (Service and Loyalty).
Umesh Gopinath Jadhav, from Maharashtra, was the special guest at the wreath-laying ceremony at CRPF campus in Lethpora. Jadhav took 61,000 kms long journey across India from Maharashtra to meet the families of the 40 CRPF men and collected the soil from their houses and their cremation grounds.
Additional Director General of CRPF Zulfiquar Hasan said the supreme sacrifice of 40 personnel has furthered increased their resolve to eliminate enemies of the country.
“We took JeM head-on soon after the Lethpora attack. All the JeM men, including its top commanders involved in the attack, were killed in concerted operations. Today, it stands decimated,” Additional Director General, CRPF, Zulfikar Hassan, said.
“The National Investigation Agency (NIA) is investigating the attack. It has made huge progress in the case,” he said.
Reports quoted official data said that 38 members of the JeM, including nine commanders, were killed after the attack.
JeM’s local suicide bomber, Adil Dar, detonated an explosives-laden car near a CRPF convoy on the Srinagar-Jammu highway. Days after the attack, the Indian Air Force on February 26 carried out aerial strikes in Pakistan’s Balakot area.
A day later, in renewed skirmishes in air, led to the downing of at least one Indian jet, and the capture of its pilot by Pakistan. A chopper was also lost in a battle-ready position as it was hit by the missile over the Pir Panchal. Islamabad quickly returned the captured pilot apparently to reduce tensions.
Meanwhile, paying his tributes, J&K Lieutenant Governor Girish Chandra Murmu said, “The country is indebted to all these martyrs and will always remember their valour and sacrifice”.
