From Haryana to Kerala, from Arunachal Pradesh to Andhra Pradesh, the families of the Pahalgam attack victims, who come from across the country, said they felt a sense of justice after India carried out , hitting nine sites in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir with airstrikes.
The strikes came two weeks after the April 22 , in which 25 tourists and a local man were killed. The Defence Ministry said in a statement early Wednesday that the airstrikes were undertaken as part of the “commitment that those responsible for this attack will be held accountable”.
The father of Lt Vinay Narwal, who was killed in the Pahalgam attack, thanked the government for carrying out the airstrikes. “It was expected for many days. I thank our Prime Minister and our Armed Forces for their decisive and targeted response. I saw the news reports in the early hours. It is an appropriate action. People had been asking me what I want from the government. This is the befitting reply given to terrorists and their facilitators,” said Rajesh Narwal, from Haryana’s Karnal.
Recalling going to collect his son’s mortal remains, Rajesh said, “It was like a tsunami that had hit my life. At the same moment, a thought crossed my mind that the 26 lives these terrorists took will give a new direction and purpose, not only to our nation, but the entire world.”
He called on the whole world to join hands with India in acting against terrorism. “Otherwise, such terror attacks will continue. These attacks not only destroy families, but demolish an entire nation. Our entire country has been in grief since April 22. Everybody was awaiting such an action by our armed forces. The culprits need to be punished, severely,” he said.
In Kerala’s Kochi, N Ramachandran’s daughter Arathi said the family has been “waiting for this day” since her father was killed in Pahalgam. “Now, there is a sense of relief and comfort. There is a feeling that justice was done,” she said.
“Operation Sindoor is the most suitable name for the operation. Nobody can find a better name for this mission. We salute the Indian forces and all those behind this operation,” she said.
Recalling that terror attack, Arathi said, “They attacked and killed only men. The terrorists might have wanted to give the message that the women can be allowed to live in trauma for the rest of their life. Let them understand that all Indian women are not going to spend their life shedding tears. We have a country and system to give a fitting reply to them.”
Kajalben Parmar (45), who lost her 17-year-old son Smit and 46-year-old husband Yatishbhai in the Pahalgam attack, said the strikes in Pakistan brought a sense of justice to the family.
“We won’t forget what the country and Army did for us. The action taken by the Army and (Prime Minister Narendra) Modi sahab, which comes 15 days after the death of my husband and son, makes us feel really good. The terrorists have been taught a lesson. The loss and grief cannot be forgotten, but at least their soul will be in peace,” she said.
She said Wednesday’s strikes should only be a “glimpse” of the action India takes against terrorists, “who took away our sindoor and the lives of our sons”.
In Arunachal Pradesh, family members of 30-year-old Corporal Tage Hailyang, who was killed in the Pahalgam terror attack, thanked the Indian armed forces and the government for Operation Sindoor, while expressing hope that the security forces remain safe.
“We have been watching the news since the morning, and there is a sense of justice in knowing that there has been considerable damage done to terrorist groups operating there. We thank the Indian government and forces for this action. We want justice for all the families who lost their loved ones that day. We also hope that there will not be any losses to our forces in any action now by Pakistan,” his younger brother Tage Lilang told .
Tage Hailyang, from Arunachal Pradesh’s Lower Subansiri district, was a corporal in the Indian Air Force’s Srinagar base and had joined the force in 2017. He married Charo Kamhua around a year ago and had just been transferred to Assam.
Another brother of his, Tage Taka, said that Charo Kamhua is still in shock. “He was killed in front of her eyes. We will be grieving this for a long time,” he said.
In Visakhapatnam, the family of retired SBI employee J S Chandramouli also got some closure. “Our armed forces did a great job. It provides some sense of justice. This operation was required,” said B Nageswara Rao, his brother-in-law. “While we uphold peace and oppose violence in principle, inaction in the face of such heinous acts is not an option.”
Chandramouli and his wife Naga Mani had gone on a vacation to Kashmir with two other senior citizen couples when the attack took place. They arrived in on April 18 and were supposed to return on April 26 after visiting several tourist destinations in Kashmir.
Chandramouli was initially reported missing, but his bullet-riddled body was found later.
Sumathi Rao, a resident of Shivamogga in Karnataka, said she woke up on Wednesday to the news that she was hoping for. Her son, Manjunath Rao, was among the 26 killed in Pahalgam.
“My son will never return, and I know no action can undo what has happened,” she said. “But I believe innocent, unarmed people should never be targeted. My son was one such innocent victim. I had faith that justice would be served, and I have been waiting patiently for it. Though I welcome the operation, I still feel the terrorists deserve harsher punishment.” She also said she prayed that no more innocent lives would be lost.
In , the family of 35-year-old Bharat Bhushan said they were confident India would hit back for the terror attack that claimed his life.
“Besides the airstrikes, I also thank government for taking steps like suspending the Indus Water Treaty,” his father, Chennaveerappa said. “Pakistan has long harboured terrorists. India’s response is justified… No more Pahalgams should happen, and we must remember the sacrifices of our soldiers along the LoC as well,” Chennaveerappa said.
