The wife of a victim of the recent Pahalgam terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir, which claimed the lives of 26 people, has expressed her grief and a sense of connection to the nation's response following "Operation Sindoor". Aishanya Dwivedi, the widow of Shubham Dwivedi, a 31-year-old businessman from Kanpur who was killed in the attack, shared her emotional response to the operation's codename, feeling it was a personal acknowledgment of the pain she and other wives of the victims are experiencing.
Speaking to India Today TV, Aishanya described the moment she saw the name "Operation Sindoor" and how it immediately brought her husband's image to mind, causing her to cry. She expressed gratitude to the Indian government for taking action against the terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. "It's a very personal thing...by naming the operation 'Sindoor', whoever has named it...they have personally connected with the wives of those 26 killed," she added.
Shubham Dwivedi and Aishanya had been married on February 12th of this year and were visiting Pahalgam when the attack occurred. According to reports, terrorists specifically targeted individuals, even asking their names before shooting them. Aishanya reportedly pleaded with the terrorists to spare her husband's life, but they showed no mercy.
"Operation Sindoor," launched by the Indian Armed Forces, involved precision missile strikes against terrorist hideouts in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. The operation targeted nine locations, including strongholds of Lashkar-e-Taiba, Jaish-e-Mohammed, and Hizbul Mujahideen, aiming to eliminate leaders responsible for planning attacks in India, including the Pahalgam attack. According to the Ministry of Defence, the strikes were a measured response, focused on dismantling terrorist infrastructure and disabling terrorists.
The operation's name, "Sindoor," holds cultural significance in India, referring to the traditional red powder worn by married women as a symbol of their marital status. The choice of this name resonated deeply with Aishanya and other wives of the victims, providing a sense of personal connection and acknowledgment.
While Aishanya expressed her gratitude and a sense of justice being served, she also conveyed the profound loss she feels. The brutal act of violence has not only taken her husband but also irrevocably altered her life. Her statement, "Didn't lose my husband, lost my life," encapsulates the devastating impact of the tragedy, highlighting the enduring pain and suffering inflicted upon the victims and their families.
Another victim's wife, Jennifer, the wife of Sushil Nathaniel, also expressed the need for justice. She demanded that the terrorists involved in the attack be tracked down and brought to justice for their heinous crime.
The Pahalgam attack and "Operation Sindoor" have evoked strong reactions across India. Political leaders have expressed support for the government's actions, and citizens have lauded the armed forces for their response. However, amidst the expressions of support and calls for justice, the personal stories of loss and grief, like Aishanya's, serve as a stark reminder of the human cost of terrorism and the enduring impact it has on the lives of individuals and families.
