On 14 February 2019, a Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) was carrying a convoy of 2,000 army personnels and were moving along the Jammu and Srinagar National Highway.
Tricolour draped coffins of CRPF personnel who lost their lives in the Pulwama terror attack, during wreath laying ceremony at the CRPF camp in Budgam on Friday - Deccan Chronicle Main Published Photo. (16/02/2019)
One of the darkest days in Indian history is February 14, 2019.
During this day 40 soldiers of the Indian military lost their life when the CRPF convoy was attacked by suicide a bomber.
The attack was planned by a Pakistan based terror outfit, Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM), which further intensified the hostility between India and Pakistan.
What Happened?
What Happened?
On 14 February 2019, a Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) was carrying a convoy of 2,000 army personnels and were moving along the Jammu and Srinagar National Highway.
All of a sudden, a suicide bomber drove an explosive-laden into one of the buses that set off a a huge explosion, which resulted in the death of 40 CRPF personnels.
Investigation
Investigation
The attack was supervised by Jaishe-e-Mohammad, and its main plotter was Mohammad Umar Farooq, who traveled to Afghanistan to get the explosives training and then trespassed India and carried out the attack.
In early 2019, a Maruti EECO car was altered and filled with 200 kg of high-grade explosives, which included RDX, gelatin stick, aluminum powder, and calcium ammonium nitrate.
The leaders of Jem including Masood Azhar, Rouf Asgar, and Ammar Alvi played a pivotal role in directing the attack.
The attack was being planned for more than two years, and involved the infiltration of Pakistani terrorists in India.
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) submitted a chargesheet against 19 accused including the leader of JeM, Masood Azhar.
The intelligence sources state that the terrorist group planned other attacks, but they were thwarted following the Balakot airstrikes.
Retaliation
Retaliation
In response to this India retaliated with a strategic military action, Operation Balakot.
On February 26, 2019, the Indian Air Force began an air strike before dawn that targeted the largest terror training camp of JeM in Balakot, Pakistan.
The airstrike was executed by various Mirage 2000 fighter jets and destroyed the training centre.
According to reports, the strike killed a significant number of senior commanders, trainers, and terrorists.
Masood Azhar's brother-in-law, Maulana Yousuf Azhar, operated a JeM facility that was the target of the airstrike.
The operation was successful and was later named as 'Operation Bakatkot.'
Since the Indo-Pakistani war of 197, it was the first airstrike of India inside Pakistan.
Tensions between India and Pakistan increased after India's military reaction, and on February 27, 2019, IAF and Pakistan Air Force jets engaged in dogfights.
( Source : Deccan Chronicle )
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