'We are crying with happiness': Pahalgam attack victims' kin hail Operation Sindoor

NEW DELHI: The Indian Army’s Operation Sindoor in the early hours of Wednesday has brought a sense of justice and emotional relief to the families of those killed in the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, which claimed 26 lives, including several tourists from Maharashtra.The strike, aimed at dismantling Pakistan-based terror infrastructure, has been welcomed by the victims’ relatives. Asvari Jagdale, daughter of victim Santosh Jagdale, described her emotions after hearing about the military action.Speaking to ANI, Jagdale said, "We were crying with happiness. Modi has taken revenge, and the way the operation was named, our tears wouldn't stop. Those sisters whose sindoor (symbol of marital status) was erased by these terrorists--India has struck them at nine locations. It feels truly different, and our tears of joy just won't stop."Sanjay Dwivedi, father of another victim Shubham Dwivedi, said the strike has restored his family’s faith in the government."I am continuously watching the news. I salute the Indian army and thank PM Modi, who listened to the pain of the country's people. The way the Indian military has destroyed the terrorism that is flourishing in Pakistan, I thank our military for that. My entire family has been feeling light since we heard this news" he said.Manoj Dwivedi, a relative of Shubham Dwivedi, echoed the sentiment, calling the operation a form of justice."On 22nd April, when our child lost his life, we said that a revolution is going to come in our country, and we were sure that PM Modi will take the strictest step to finish terrorism. I want to thank PM Modi for the real tribute that the Army has given today to our son." he told ANI.Meanwhile, locals in Jammu raised patriotic slogans such as 'Indian Army Zindabad' and 'Bharat Mata ki Jai', expressing their appreciation for the armed forces."It was very important for the government to give a response to the attack made by Pakistan... we are really thankful to the government and the Indian Army," a local said.The strike marked India’s deepest incursion into Pakistan's undisputed territory since the 1971 war, according to sources. The operation, which reportedly struck nine targets, was monitored overnight by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.Indian forces reportedly aimed at key infrastructure used by terror groups Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) and Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), particularly those involved in planning and executing attacks on Indian soil.In an official statement, the Ministry of Defence said:“In the early hours of Wednesday, the Indian Army launched Operation Sindoor, hitting terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir from where terrorist attacks against India have been planned and directed.”"Our actions have been focused, measured and non-escalatory in nature. No Pakistani military facilities have been targeted. India has demonstrated considerable restraint in the selection of targets and method of execution," the statement added.