Indian sporting fraternity shows solidarity to the families of martyrs of Pulwama Terror Attack

By
Abhishek Kundu
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159
From cricketers Virat Kohli and Sachin Tendulkar to Olympic medallists Rajyawardhan Singh Rathore to India's footballing legend Sunil Chhetri, everyone has expressed grief over the death of 42 CRPF jawans.
From cricketers Virat Kohli and Sachin Tendulkar to Olympic medallists Rajyawardhan Singh Rathore to India's footballing legend Sunil Chhetri, everyone has expressed grief over the death of 42 CRPF jawans.
From cricketers Virat Kohli and Sachin Tendulkar to Olympic medallists Rajyawardhan Singh Rathore to India's footballing legend Sunil Chhetri, everyone has expressed grief over the death of 42 CRPF jawans.
From cricketers Virat Kohli and Sachin Tendulkar to Olympic medallists Rajyawardhan Singh Rathore to India’s footballing legend Sunil Chhetri, everyone has expressed grief over the death of 42 CRPF jawans.

On the afternoon of 14th February 2019, a horrific incident shook the entire nation. Adil Ahmed Dar, a 22-year-old Jaish-e-Mohammad suicide bomber, rammed an SUV containing 80kgs of RDX onto a bus carrying security personnel of CRPF at the Awantipura Town in the Pulwama District of Jammu and Kashmir. As a result, 42 personnel attained martyrdom and several others injured themselves.

The entire nation expressed their grief on the matter and showcased their solidarity to the families of the soldiers who lost their lives. 2011 ICC Cricket World Cup winner Virender Sehwag promised to finance the education of the children who lost their parents whereas Olympic bronze-medallist Vijender Singh is set to donate one month’s salary. 

The rest of the Indian sporting fraternity chipped in to express their empathy towards the families of the martyrs in this harrowing time of affliction. Here is how they reacted:

Indian football team captain Sunil Chhetri told that he was going through a range of emotions and prayed that the families of the soldiers find the courage to cope with the loss. 

Indian national team goalkeeper prayed that the families find the strength to cope with the loss on the soldiers who sacrificed their lives by patrolling the border.

Indian national women’s team captain and goalkeeper Aditi Chauhan was left heartbroken hearing the news of CRPF Jawans being martyred. She herself comes from a CRPF family as her dad served in the aforementioned unit.

2016 Australian Open Women’s Doubles winner Sania Mirza was saddened to hear the attack on the CRPF soldiers in Pulwama. She also expressed her sincere condolences to the families and told that there was no place for terrorism in the world. 

Saina Nehwal, who won the Bronze medal in the 2012 Beijing Olympic Games, was shocked to hear the news of the terror attack. She expressed her sincere condolences to the families and friends of the martyred CRPF jawans. 

Former World No. 1 Kidambi Srikanth strongly condemned the terror attack in Pulwama. He prayed for the well-being of the jawans who were martyred and their grieving families. 

Gautam Gambhir is extremely vociferous on the matter. He questioned the government why security is given to the Hurriyat leaders while the Indian soldiers are being mercilessly killed by their terror outfit.

2012 Olympic Bronze medallist Yogeshwar Dutt requested the government to find and kill the traitors who helped the terrorists to attack the CRPF vehicle. 

Bajrang Punia, who won the silver medal in the 2018 Wrestling World Championships, vented his frustration towards the terrorist and their parent organization whose cowardice killed the CRPF Jawans. 

Mirabai Chanu, who won the gold medal in the 2018 Commonwealth Games in the 48kg weightlifting category, said that it was a matter of great grief and anger as the country lost their Jawans at the Pulwama terror attack. 

Hima Das, who won a silver medal in the 2018 Asian Games in the 400m sprint race, was deeply saddened by the tragic attacks. 

2004 Athens Olympics silver medallist and current Minister of State for Youth Affairs and Sports Rajyawardhan Singh Rathore was present in the funeral of one of the Jawans and wrote a wonderful poem in his honor. 

Indian hockey team captain Manpreet Singh expressed his heartfelt condolences, strength, and courage to the family and loved ones of the martyred soldiers. 

Anup Kumar, who led India to victory in the 2016 Kabaddi World Cup, prayed that the Almighty gave peace to the soul and strength to the grieving family of the martyred soldiers. 

Indian cricket team captain Virat Kohli was shocked to hear about the attack in Pulwama and expressed his heartfelt condolences to the martyred soldiers and prayed for a speedy recovery of the injured Jawans. 

Sachin Tendulkar called the attack on the CRPF personnel cowardly and dastardly and prayed for the recovery of the injured soldiers in the hospital.