PM Modi names India's counterstrike ‘Operation Sindoor’ in powerful tribute to Pahalgam attack victims
PTC Web Desk: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has personally chosen the name Operation Sindoor for India’s precision counterstrike on terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir, launched in retaliation for the brutal Pahalgam Terror Attack that left 26 civilians dead. The name, steeped in symbolism and emotion, reflects the devastating personal losses suffered in the attack.
Operation Sindoor – meaning vermilion – is a poignant reference to the sacred red powder worn by married Hindu women, symbolising their marital bond. The choice of this name highlights the cruel intent behind the Pahalgam massacre, where victims were reportedly identified by their religion and executed in front of their families. The symbolism is striking – the terrorists not only took innocent lives, but also tore apart families, leaving behind widows in grief.
An image released by the Indian Army to accompany the announcement featured the operation’s name in bold letters, with one of the "O"s in Sindoor represented as a bowl of vermilion, some of which has spilled—symbolising the bloodshed and the shattered lives of the 25 women who lost their husbands. The caption read: “Justice is served. Jai Hind.”
Among the most heart-wrenching visuals shared widely on social media was that of Himanshi Narwal, a newlywed whose wedding bangles were still on her arms, mourning beside the body of her husband, Indian Navy officer Lieutenant Vinay Narwal. Another viral video showed Pallavi Rao, who had been smiling just a day earlier during a boat ride, pleading for help after her husband Manjunath Rao was shot.
The grief resonated across the country — from Shital Kalathiya, the wife of Shailesh Kalathiya, to Sohini Adhikari, Aishanya Dwivedi, and Pragati Jagdale, each widow’s anguish added to the nation’s collective pain. Operation Sindoor embodies that pain and the resolve to answer it with strength.
Families welcome symbolic name and swift action
The families of the slain civilians have expressed gratitude for the Indian government’s response.
“I want to thank Prime Minister Modi for avenging my husband's death,” said Aishanya, widow of Shubham Dwivedi. “This is the real tribute. Wherever he is, he will be at peace.”
Sangita Ganbote, wife of Kaustubh Ganbote, said, “I cry every day remembering that horror. We were waiting for action, and now those terrorists have been given a fitting answer.”
Pragati Jagdale added emotionally, “It's a befitting reply. When I heard the name Operation Sindoor, I had tears in my eyes. I thank the government sincerely.”
PM Modi: "This Was an Attack on India’s Soul"
Sources confirmed that Prime Minister Modi closely monitored the counter-offensive, which involved 24 missile strikes on nine terror-linked locations across Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir. These included Muzaffarabad, Bahawalpur, Kotli, Neelum Valley, and others, resulting in the deaths of 70 terrorists and injuries to over 60 more.
In the wake of the Pahalgam attack, PM Modi had vowed an “unimaginable punishment” for those responsible. “This was not just an attack on tourists; it was an attack on India’s soul,” he said. “From Kargil to Kanyakumari, the country is united in grief and fury. The time has come to eliminate every last remnant of these terror havens.”
The Prime Minister also expressed gratitude to world leaders and countries standing in solidarity with India during this critical moment.
- PTC NEWS
