logo
Real tribute, justice to those killed in Pahalgam attack, say families of victims

Real tribute, justice to those killed in Pahalgam attack, say families of victims

Hindustan Times07-05-2025

Pune: Family members of the victims killed in last month's terror attack in Pahalgam have welcomed India's recent cross-border strikes in Pakistan, calling it a strong and timely response. Asavari Jagdale, daughter of Santosh Jagdale, who was killed in the Pahalgam terror attack, speaks to the media on the success of Operation Sindoor in Pune on Wednesday. Family members of victims killed in the attack have welcomed India's recent cross-border strikes in Pakistan, calling it a strong and timely response. (ANI)
For the families, Operation Sindoor symbolises more than just a military retaliation — it reflects India's commitment to delivering justice for those who lost their lives in the attack.
Asavari Jagdale, whose father Santosh Jagdale was among the victims from Pune, said the naming of the operation moved her to tears. 'I couldn't stop crying when I heard the name 'Sindoor'. It feels like a real tribute to those who were taken from us. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has avenged their deaths, and the name of the operation itself speaks volumes. It felt like a message to those who erased the 'sindoor' of so many women,' she said.
Hindu women put 'sindoor' (vermilion) on their head as symbol of marriage.
Asavari said the loss of husbands and fathers was not left in vain. 'India has paid actual homage to them (victims) by striking. I want to thank for the justice served within 15 days,' she said.
Kunal Ganbote, whose father Kaustubh Ganbote was also killed, said the strike offered a sense of closure. 'We were all waiting for this kind of response, and we trusted the Indian government to act. Naming the operation Sindoor shows respect to women like my mother,' he said.
Kaustubh's wife, Sangita said, 'The action taken by the military is good, and by naming it as Operation Sindoor, they have respected the women. I still cry on some days. We were waiting for PM Modi to take such action, and he has given them a befitting reply. Terrorists should be eliminated.'
Kaustubh, a well-known farsan (snacks) trader with businesses in Kondhwa and Rasta Peth areas of Pune, was one of six tourists from Maharashtra who died in the April 22 attack, which claimed 26 lives — the most severe such incident since Pulwama in 2019. Two of the six tourists were from Pune.
Operation Sindoor, carried out on Wednesday, marked India's deepest strike inside Pakistan's territory since the 1971 war. Sources said Modi closely monitored the situation overnight, with all nine intended targets successfully hit.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Indian Navy, UK Carrier Strike Group conduct high-tempo drill in North Arabian Sea
Indian Navy, UK Carrier Strike Group conduct high-tempo drill in North Arabian Sea

India Today

time23 minutes ago

  • India Today

Indian Navy, UK Carrier Strike Group conduct high-tempo drill in North Arabian Sea

After a month-long high-alert deployment during Operation Sindoor, the Indian Navy has conducted a high-tempo Passage Exercise (PASSEX) with the United Kingdom's Carrier Strike Group in the strategic North Arabian drill, held on June 9 and 10, featured Indian naval assets including the stealth frigate INS Tabar, a submarine, and the long-range maritime patrol aircraft P-8I. The UK's naval contingent included HMS Prince of Wales and HMS Richmond. advertisementThe exercise highlighted advanced operational coordination and interoperability between the two forces. With synchronised tactical manoeuvres and unified helicopter control operations, both navies demonstrated their readiness and high-end combat capabilities. The professional exchange of officers further cemented the bond between the Indian and Royal Navies, reinforcing ties beyond routine joint drills. This engagement comes on the heels of the Indian Navy's prominent role in Operation Sindoor, where it was forward-deployed in the North Arabian Sea. The exercise served as a testament to the operational strength and combat preparedness of Indian naval units, both surface and underwater. Indian submarines and warships were instrumental in executing complex maritime tasks during the operation, earning them recognition as some of the most capable units joint PASSEX carries strategic significance due to its location. The North Arabian Sea remains a critical maritime corridor for global trade, including essential energy shipments. Conducting joint drills in this region reflects a shared commitment by India and the United Kingdom to maintaining maritime stability, safeguarding sea lines of communication, and projecting a credible naval presence in the exercise also reflects the growing maritime collaboration between the two nations, emphasising a rules-based international order and underscoring the Indo-Pacific's importance in global geopolitics. As regional maritime threats evolve, this coordinated show of strength reaffirms the collective deterrence posture of both InMust Watch

Setback for India: Jairam Ramesh after US general praises Pakistan's terror fight
Setback for India: Jairam Ramesh after US general praises Pakistan's terror fight

India Today

timean hour ago

  • India Today

Setback for India: Jairam Ramesh after US general praises Pakistan's terror fight

Congress leader Jairam Ramesh questioned the Indian government on Wednesday over recent remarks by a top United States military official praising Pakistan's counter-terrorism efforts. Taking to X, Ramesh wrote, 'Recently, the head of the US Central Command called Pakistan a 'great partner in the counter-terrorism campaign'. What will our Prime Minister and his ovation say to this? Is this not a diplomatic setback for India?'advertisementHis statement followed US Central Command chief General Michael Kurilla's testimony before the House Armed Services Committee, where the outgoing commander described Pakistan as a 'phenomenal partner' in counter-terrorism comments came at a time when India had been actively campaigning to expose Pakistan's support for cross-border terrorism, particularly after the deadly terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam in April. During the hearing, General Kurilla urged Washington not to adopt a zero-sum approach in South Asia, stating that the US must maintain strategic relations with both India and Pakistan."We need to have a relationship with Pakistan and with India. I do not believe it is a binary switch that we can't have one with Pakistan if we have a relationship with India,' he said. 'We should look at the merits of the relationship for the positives that it has.'advertisementKurilla's remarks came even as India stepped up diplomatic efforts to hold Pakistan accountable for its alleged role in the Pahalgam attack, which killed 26 people on April 22. In response, India carried out precision air strikes on terror infrastructure across the border in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir on May military escalation ended on May 10 after the Directors General of Military Operations from both countries reached an officials, including External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, had reiterated that India would not accept any equivalence between victims of terrorism and the perpetrators. New Delhi also expressed concern over multiple international responses that appeared to hyphenate India and Pakistan during the brief military Kurilla, who is expected to retire later this summer, also spoke about Pakistan's role in combatting the Islamic State's regional affiliate, ISIS-Khorasan, also known as IS-KP. He acknowledged efforts by the Pakistani military and army chief General Asim Munir in countering the terror Watch

BSF complains about filthy train coaches for Amarnath duty, Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw acts
BSF complains about filthy train coaches for Amarnath duty, Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw acts

Indian Express

timean hour ago

  • Indian Express

BSF complains about filthy train coaches for Amarnath duty, Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw acts

The Border Security Force complained to the North-Eastern Railways about the 'unhygienic/filthy' condition of 'most of the coaches' in a special train allotted on June 9 evening for movement of its 1,200 personnel from the Udaipur station in Tripura to Jammu Tawi in J&K for Amarnath Yatra duty. Stating it was 'not possible for troops to travel such a long distance' in the dilapidated coaches, the BSF Train Commandant, who complained to the Agartala Station Manager, sought their immediate replacement. On Wednesday, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw took 'serious note of the incident involving the deployment of an unsuitable/old train' and a probe was ordered, a Ministry official said, adding that four officials – the Coaching Depot Officer and three Senior Section Engineers – of the Alipurduar railway division had been placed under suspension. According to the official, a special train had been arranged exclusively for BSF personnel and it would leave the Agartala station Wednesday night. 'The Railway Minister has made it clear that the dignity and comfort of security forces are of utmost priority and that such negligence will not be tolerated at any level,' the official said. In the complaint to the Agartala Station Manager, the BSF Train Commandant had listed all that was wrong with the coaches – broken interiors including toilet doors, infested with cockroaches and insects, filthy berths and washrooms without water or electricity. The BSF Train Commandant said 'it is not possible for troops to travel such a long distance… in unhygienic/filthy and inhumane conditions' and there is every possibility that 'most of them may fall sick even before deployment'. The officer pointed out that the special train was made available at the Udaipur station only at 6.30 pm on June 9 though it had been requisitioned for June 6. According to the officer, the entire battalion was to be inducted and deployed by June 12 as per directions of the Ministry of Home Affairs. The officer sought immediate replacement of the dilapidated coaches, and also said the special train should be 'immediately placed for timely travel' to 'reach the destination as per schedule given by MHA and BSF Force HQs'. The BSF attached four files of videos and photographs of the allotted train. A spokesperson for the BSF said, 'We made a request to provide a special train for our 1,200 personnel. On June 9, they had provided a train but there were some shortcomings and we immediately informed their (Railways) senior officials about the situation.' The upcoming Amarnath Yatra will be the first major pilgrimage in J&K after the Pahalgam terror attack and the hostilities between India and Pakistan following Operation Sindoor. The Centre has decided to deploy 581 companies of paramilitary personnel to ensure adequate security for the Yatra. Mahender Singh Manral is an Assistant Editor with the national bureau of The Indian Express. He is known for his impactful and breaking stories. He covers the Ministry of Home Affairs, Investigative Agencies, National Investigative Agency, Central Bureau of Investigation, Law Enforcement Agencies, Paramilitary Forces, and internal security. Prior to this, Manral had extensively reported on city-based crime stories along with that he also covered the anti-corruption branch of the Delhi government for a decade. He is known for his knack for News and a detailed understanding of stories. He also worked with Mail Today as a senior correspondent for eleven months. He has also worked with The Pioneer for two years where he was exclusively covering crime beat. During his initial days of the career he also worked with The Statesman newspaper in the national capital, where he was entrusted with beats like crime, education, and the Delhi Jal Board. A graduate in Mass Communication, Manral is always in search of stories that impact lives. ... Read More Dheeraj Mishra is a Principal correspondent with The Indian Express, Business Bureau. He covers India's two key ministries- Ministry of Railways and Ministry of Road Transport & Highways. He frequently uses the Right to Information (RTI) Act for his stories, which have resulted in many impactful reports. ... Read More

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store