A Day To Remember

(Dedicated to all Indian Army soldiers, who died on Feb 14, 2019)

General Aravinth Krishna, with his team Major Rasil and Major Sarah are heading back to their hometown, having been given leave.

While traveling, Aravinth hears two kids, having conflicts about joining the Indian Army and he consoles them to stop fighting.

 

At that time, Rasil asks, "Sir. Why did you join this Indian Army, despite being a topper in studies?"

"Because, I loved my nation, more than my academics," said Aravinth.

"Was anyone your inspiration and role-model sir? I wish knew this as a newcomer to the Indian Army sir" said Rasil, to which Aravinthis heartbroken and later opens up his role model's life.

(The story goes in a narrative mode, narrated by Aravinth)

I was born into a middle-class family, to my father K.Sathyanarayana, and mother Sheela. Aravinth, since small age, dreamed to join the Indian Army and he took his close friend Vijay Abinesh as his role model.

Though my father opposed, Abinesh managed to convince him and I eventually took my training in NCC. From 2013 to 2016, it was really a challenging phase for both of us.

Facing many hurdles, we both joined the Indian Army. My love interest, Swetha broke up with me citing the career differences. From 2016 to 2018, it was a tough career in the Indian Army.

I was posted as General in the Air force, while Abinesh was posted in the CRBF forces. We have done two Anti-terrorism operations and two militant elimination missions.

The borders of Kashmir and Line of control were really challenging places for us since, Kashmir is a disputed territory, claimed both by India and Pakistan with both countries administering part of the territory. Pakistan has sought to gain control of Indian-administered Kashmir. An insurgency began to proliferate in Indian-administered Kashmir in the late 1980s. Pakistan provided the insurgency with material support. Since 1989, about 70,000 people have been killed in the uprising and the Indian crackdown. According to Time, unrest in Kashmir grew in 2016 after India killed a popular militant leader, Burhan Wani. A rising number of young locals from Indian administered Kashmir have joined the militancy. Many sources state that the majority of militants in Kashmir are now local, not foreign. In 2018 alone, the death toll included 260 militants, 160 civilians, and 150 government forces. Since 2015, Pakistan-based militants in Kashmir have increasingly taken to high-profile suicide attacks against the Indian security forces. In July 2015, three gunmen attacked a bus, and police station in Gurdaspur. Early in 2016, four to six gunmen attacked the Pathankot Air Force Station. In February and June 2016, the militants killed nine and eight security personnel respectively in Pampore. In September 2016, four assailants attacked an Indian Army brigade headquarters in Uri killing 19 soldiers. On 31 December 2017, the Commando Training Centre at Lethpora was also attacked by militants killing five security personnel. These attacks took place in the vicinity of the Jammu Srinagar National Highway.

Following these attacks by the terrorist groups of Pakistan and Kashmir respectively, I and Abinesh were asked by Lieutenant Ibrahim to kill the terrorists Abdul Malik and Bilal Malik, who orchestrated these attacks, when they are found in any places of Kashmir.

I was however feared. But, Abinesh told me, "Why should we fear da? Our weakness is the strength of them. When you stepped into the army, you should never fear anyone. Keep that in your mind."

These motivational words, that were given by Abinesh still make me an enthusiastic and bold army man in the Indian Army. After we killed Abdul and Bilal Malik, terrorists threatened us to destroy Kashmir as well as some important places in India, shortly in February.

Feared about the attacks, we were immediately asked by Lieutenant Ibrahim to safeguard more than 2,500 Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF). 

On 14 February 2019, a convoy of 78 vehicles transporting more than 2,500 Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel from Jammu to Srinagar was traveling on National Highway 44. The convoy had left Jammu around 03:30 IST and was carrying a large number of personnel due to the highway having been shut down for two days prior. The convoy was scheduled to reach its destination before sunset.

At Lethpora near Awantipora, around 15:15 IST, a bus carrying security personnel was rammed by a car carrying explosives. It caused a blast that killed 40 CRPF personnel of the 76th Battalion and injured many others.[1] The injured were moved to the army base hospital in Srinagar.

Pakistan-based militant group Jaish-e-Mohammed claimed responsibility for the attack. They also released a video of the assailant Adil Ahmad Dar, a 22-year old from Kakapora who had joined the group a year earlier. Dar's family had last seen him in March 2018, when he left his house on a bicycle one day and never returned. Pakistan denied any involvement, though Jaish-e-Mohammed's leader, Masood Azhar, is known to operate in the country.

It is the deadliest terror attack on India's state security personnel in Kashmir since 1989. Both Abinesh and myself was severely injured and about 720 were severely injured in the attacks, with few eventually losing their life.

After a 2 days treatment in the Army hospitals, Abinesh eventually succumbs to his injuries, which shattered me a lot. I luckily survived the attack, because of Abinesh. Since it was he who took the bullets, that were fired by the terrorists, even after bombing our bus. Henceforth I got minor injuries. 

I informed the death of Abinesh his parents, who came to the border and mourned his death. While cremating the body, I told my juniors to salute the dead army soldiers' bodies as a tribute to their death and we all saluted them.

Since that was the only way through which we could honor the dead army men with the Paramvir Chakra award also, being a part of it. After the Pulwama attacks, so many reactions came from various Indian states, who told that this Feb 14, 2019, is a black day to be remembered by all Indian citizens.

Finally, my love interest Swetha also realized the importance of the Indian Army and their role in protecting our country through Abinesh's death after which, she reconciled with me.

In the aftermath of the attacks, India revoked Pakistan's most favored nation status.[2] The customs duty on all Pakistani goods imported to India was raised to 200%. The government of India urged the Financial Action Task Force on Money Laundering (FATF) to put Pakistan on the blacklist. The FATF decided to keep it on the 'grey list' and gave Pakistan time till October 2019 to comply with the 27 conditions it had laid down in June 2018, when it was put on the 'grey list', with an attending caveat. If Pakistan failed to comply, it would be added to the blacklist. On 17 February, the state administration revoked security provisions for separatist leaders.

Protests, bands, and candlelight marches were held across India. There were violent protests in Jammu resulting in a curfew being imposed starting 14 February. The Indian community in the United Kingdom held protests outside the Pakistan High Commission in London. A delegation of Indian doctors canceled their visit to Pakistan for the 13th Association of Anaesthesiologists Congress, organized by the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation, in Lahore on 7 March. Indian broadcaster sport said it would no longer broadcast Pakistan Super League cricket matches. The All Indian Cine Workers Association announced a ban on Pakistani actors and artists in the Indian film industry and stated that strong action would be taken on any organization violating it. The Indian Film and Television Directors Association also announced a ban on Pakistani artists in films and music produced in India; the president of the organization threatened to "vandalize" the sets of any Indian film production with Pakistani artists.

On 20 February 2019, Pakistani prisoner Shakarullah, who was serving a life term in India's Jaipur Central Jail under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, was stabbed and beaten to death by four other inmates. India claimed that Shakarullah was allegedly killed in a brawl among the inmates over television volume. Pakistan claimed that he was killed in retaliation for the Pulwama incident.

Following intelligence inputs, in the early morning hours of 18 February, a joint team comprising 55 Rashtriya Rifles, CRPF, and Special Operations Group of India killed two terrorists and two supporters in an anti-terrorism encounter operation in the ensuing manhunt for the perpetrators in Pulwama. One of them, Abdul Rasheed Ghazi alias Kamran, was identified as a Pakistani national and was considered the mastermind of the attack and a commander of the terrorist group Jaish-e-Muhammad (jem). In addition, local jem recruit Hilal Ahmed, along with two sympathizers who housed Ghazi and Ahmed to evade capture, was also shot dead in the encounter. Four security personnel were killed in the gunfight.

Kashmiri students living in other parts of India faced a backlash after the attack, including violence and harassment, and eviction from their homes. In response, many Indians offered to house Kashmiris who may have been evicted.

 Was reported that the number of Kashmiris fleeing from the rest of India had reached "hundreds". Jammu and Kashmir Students Organisation reported that 97% of Kashmiri students in Dehradun had been evacuated. Two Indian colleges in Dehradhun announced that no new Kashmiri students will receive admission. One of those colleges, Alpine College, suspended its dean, who is a Kashmiri, after some groups called for him to be fired.

Tathagata Roy, the governor of the Indian state Meghalaya, tweeted support for a boycott of "everything Kashmiri". Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad disagreed with this view. A Kashmiri merchant was beaten in Kolkata; the attack was condemned by West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee.

Kashmir police chief Dilbagh Singh said they had asked affected states to protect students." Former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah met with Rajnath Singh seeking assistance.

On 26 February, twelve Mirage 2000 jets of the Indian Air Force crossed the Line of Control and dropped bombs into Balakot, Pakistan. India claimed that it attacked a Jaish-e-Mohammed training camp and killed a large number of terrorists, reported to be between 300 and 350. 

Pakistan claimed that they quickly scrambled jets to intercept the IAF jets, who dropped their payloads to quickly return over the Line of Control.

Finally, both the countries India-Pakistan ckashed each other in the Borders of Kashmir through Jetpacks and after speaking with the Respective governments, our Major Surendran, who got captured by them, was released and after this, Kashmir special constitution was revoked by our government.

Subsequently, the aftermath of these challenging attacks, I planned to take a leave for my hometown, to meet my would-be wife Swetha, accompanied by my teammates.

(Ends the narration)

"Great sir. Starting with your role model's life, you have explained your whole life in Army" said Rasil to which Aravinth replies, "But, a day to remember in our history of Indian Army."

"What sir?" Asked Rasil to which he smiles and replies, "Pulvama Attack: 2019."