The Indian Army's Operation Sindoor, launched in the early hours of Wednesday, has brought a wave of relief and a sense of justice to the families of the victims of the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, which tragically claimed 26 lives, including several tourists from Maharashtra. The operation, which targeted terror infrastructure in Pakistan, has been widely hailed as a fitting response to the heinous attack.
Asvari Jagdale, the daughter of Santosh Jagdale, a victim of the Pahalgam attack, expressed her overwhelming emotions, stating, "We were crying with happiness. Modi has taken revenge, and the way the operation was named, our tears wouldn't stop. Those sisters whose sindoor (symbol of marital status) was erased by these terrorists—India has struck them at nine locations. It feels truly different, and our tears of joy just won't stop". She lauded the government and the Indian Army for their decisive action.
Sanjay Dwivedi, the father of Shubham Dwivedi, another victim, conveyed his restored faith in the government. "I am continuously watching the news. I salute the Indian Army and thank PM Modi, who listened to the pain of the country's people," he said. He also expressed his gratitude to the military for dismantling the terrorism flourishing in Pakistan, stating that his "entire family has been feeling light since we heard this news". Manoj Dwivedi, a relative of Shubham Dwivedi, echoed this sentiment, calling the operation a form of justice and expressing confidence that PM Modi would take the strictest steps to finish terrorism. "On 22nd April, when our child lost his life, we said that a revolution is going to come in our country, and we were sure that PM Modi would take the strictest step to finish terrorism. I want to thank PM Modi for the real tribute that the Army has given today to our son".
Sangita Ganbote, the wife of Kaustubh Ganbote, who also lost his life in the attack, described the strike as a "befitting reply". Her son, Kunal Ganbote, shared that they were waiting for such action from the Indian government. Sangita Ganbote further added, "The action taken by the military is good, and by naming it as Operation Sindoor, they have respected the women...We were waiting for PM Modi to take such action, and he has given them a befitting reply. Terrorists should be eliminated".
The operation specifically targeted terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir, which were used to plan and direct attacks against India, according to a statement from the Press Information Bureau (PIB). Indian sources have called the strike the deepest incursion into Pakistan's undisputed territory since the 1971 war. The Indian government emphasized that no Pakistani military facilities were hit and that "India has demonstrated considerable restraint in the selection of targets and method of execution".
The strikes and the operation's name, "Sindoor," which references the symbol of marital status for Hindu women, have resonated deeply with the families of the victims, particularly the women who lost their husbands in the Pahalgam attack. The act of naming the operation "Sindoor" was seen as a mark of respect for these women.
In Jammu, locals expressed their appreciation for the armed forces by raising patriotic slogans such as 'Indian Army Zindabad' and 'Bharat Mata ki Jai'. One local stated, "It was very important for the government to give a response to the attack made by Pakistan... we are really thankful to the government and the Indian Army".
