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On February 14, the world celebrates the most romantic holiday known as the Valentine day. However, this day is full of sadness in India and it is marked as a Black Day; a day of poignant commemoration in the face of the atrocious Pulwama terror attack on February 14, 2019. For seven years down the line when an individual once again sets the head as a tribute to the 40 gallant members of Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) who gave the ultimate sacrifice, the date is February 14, 2026.

The Jammu-Srinagar national highway attack took place sometime after 3.15 PM IST in Jammu and Kashmir on Pulwama district near Lethapora. An explosion-exploded vehicle by a suicide bomber named Adil Ahmad Dar, who was a local Kashmiri young radicalized by Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), blew up an entire convoy of 78 buses with more than 2500 CRPF jawans aboard. The huge explosion claimed the lives of 40 workers immediately and dozens were injured. A terrorist group known as Jaish-e-Mohammed, based in Pakistan, took the credit and released a video of the attacker declaring jihad.

It was also a shock that gripped the country, outbreak of mourning, anger, and unity. It resulted in Balakot airstrikes blockbusters unleashed by India on February 26, 2019, to hit the JeM camps in Pakistan, which is a bold move in counter-terror behavior by the government. Leaders of various parties, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah and others, showed their respects today, tributes filled the social media, news outlets and people saluted him. The messages, such as We remember their supreme sacrifice, and The courage inspires us forever ran around the country.

In all over India schools, NCC units and organizations conducted silent prayers, candlelight vigils and moments of silence. Families of the martyrs still receive aid and the country still makes its commitment towards terrorism. The Pulwama attack is a bitter memory that freedom is costly and the cross-border operation on terror continues.

The world joins hands in the month of love, and India recollects that of sacrifice. The 40 heroic of Pulwami -sons, husbands and fathers sacrificed their lives in order to make the society live peaceful. This is their contribution: Never Forget. Jai Hind.