'Eid-like' joy in Belagavi village as Col Sofiya Qureshi briefs nation on Operation Sindoor
Colonel Sofiya Qureshi
A wave of pride and celebration has swept through a quiet village of Konnur in Karnataka's Belagavi district after Colonel Sofiya Qureshi, daughter-in-law of local resident Mohammed Ghaus Sab Bagewadi, appeared on television to brief the nation about '
Operation Sindoor
' - the Indian armed forces'
retaliatory strike on terror camps
in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.
Operation Sindoor
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Col Sofiya Qureshi
, who is married to Ghaus Sab Bagewadi's son Tajuddin Bagewadi, who's also serving in Army, has long been a trailblazer. She holds the distinction of being the first Indian woman officer to lead a military contingent at the Asean Plus Multinational Military Exercise 'Force 18'.
She is currently posted in Jammu, while her husband is stationed in Jhansi.
Speaking to reporters, an emotional Ghaus Sab Bagewadi said, 'I got to know yesterday afternoon. When I saw her (Sofiya Qureshi) on the television my joy knew no bounds. People have been visiting our house from the morning to greet us.'
Though he spoke to his son on Thursday, Bagewadi said he hadn't yet had the chance to talk to his daughter-in-law. The sight of Col Qureshi on national television, speaking with authority about the military's precision strike, sparked jubilation in the household.
'There is Eid like celebration as all our relatives and friends have been visiting our house calling on us,' he added.
The sense of pride was not limited to his family. Locals from all walks of life thronged his residence, chanting slogans like 'Hindustan Zindabad' and 'Jai Hind' in support of the armed forces.
Reacting to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack that claimed 26 lives, Bagewadi said, 'The terrorists who shot dead innocent people after asking about their faith lack humanity. They are satans. Even Allah will not pardon them. They will pay for their deeds here only.'
He didn't mince words while talking about Pakistan either. 'Pakistan is a demon. It never attacks from the front. It always targets from behind.'
Despite the grief over the terror attack, Bagewadi said the moment had brought together his entire neighbourhood -- home to diverse communities including Marathas -- in celebration.
'All my neighbours were proud to see that my children are serving in the Army. They were extremely happy. They invited me and honoured me. We are living here like a family,' he said.
He ended on a hopeful note, expressing his desire to see his children continue their service to the nation: 'I hope they never turn away from their duty.'
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