The nation is remembering today the martyrs of Pulwama attack who made the supreme sacrifice in a dastardly terrorist attack last year. Forty Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel were martyred when their convoy on the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway was attacked by a vehicle-borne suicide bomber at Lethpora in Pulwama last year. President Ram Nath Kovind and Prime Minister Narendra Modi led the nation in paying homage to the martyrs.

President said in a tweet that grateful nation salutes the supreme sacrifice of the brave soldiers. He said India remains firm in its resolve to defeat and eliminate terrorism in all its forms and manifestations. The Prime Minister said, that the martyred soldiers were exceptional individuals who devoted their lives to serving and protecting the nation. He added that India will never forget their martyrdom.

In Jammu, a memorial to the 40 CRPF personnel was inaugurated at Lethpora camp today. The names of all the 40 personnel along with their pictures are part of the memorial along with the motto of CRPF ‘Seva and Nishtha’ (Service and Loyalty). Umesh Gopinath Jadhav, from Maharashtra, was the special guest at the wreath-laying ceremony at CRPF campus in Lethpora. Jadhav took 61,000 kms long journey across India from Maharashtra to meet the families of the 40 jawans and collected the soil from their houses & their cremation grounds.

Additional Director General of CRPF Zulfiquar Hasan said the supreme sacrifice of 40 jawans has furthered increased their resolve to eliminate enemies of the country.

Defence Minister and Home Minister have also paid homage to the martyrs of Pulwama attack. Union Ministers Smriti Irani and Hardeep Singh Puri, AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal were among those who remembered the martyrs.