Pulwama attacks: What happened on 14 Feb & why it came to be known as ‘Black Day’

The Pulwama attacks, in which 40 CRPF bravehearts were martyred in one of the bloodiest strikes on Indian security forces, are considered a “black day” in India. On February 14, 2004, India came to a halt when the deaths of 40 CRPF officers were broadcast on our televisions. In one of the biggest terror attacks, a suicide bomber from Jaish-e-Mohammad drove an explosive-laden vehicle into a Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) convoy.

PM Modi paid tributes to the 40 soldiers saying their sacrifice won’t be forgotten and that their courage encourages the nation to build a strong and developed India.

Let us dive deep into the why this day came to be called as the ‘black day’ and what happened subsequently.

The attack

A convoy of 78 cars carrying over 2,500 Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) men from Jammu to Srinagar was travelling on National Highway 44 on 14 February 2019. Due to the route being closed for two days, the convoy left Jammu about 03:30 IST, carrying a significant number of soldiers. The convoy was supposed to arrive at its destination before sunset.

A convoy of 78 cars carrying over 2,500 Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) men from Jammu to Srinagar was travelling on National Highway 44 on 14 February 2019. Due to the route being closed for two days, the convoy left Jammu about 03:30 IST, carrying a significant number of soldiers. The convoy was supposed to arrive at its destination before sunset.

Around 15:15 IST, a bus carrying security personnel was rammed by a vehicle carrying explosives in Lethpora near Awantipora. It resulted in a blast that killed 40 CRPF soldiers from the 76th Battalion and injured many more. The injured were taken to a hospital on an army post near Srinagar.

Jaish-e-Mohammad claims responsibility

Soon after the incident, the Pakistan-based terror organisation Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) claimed responsibility for the Pulwama attack.

Perpetrator

Adil Ahmad Dar, a 22-year-old from Kakapora, was recognised as the perpetrator. Dar’s parents claim that he became radicalised after being beaten by Indian police. Adil Dar was reportedly detained six times by Indian officials between September 2016 and March 2018. However, he was always released without being charged. After the attack, Jaish-e-Mohammad released the video of Adil.

Investigation and the aftermath

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) sent a 12-member team to investigate the incident in collaboration with the Jammu and Kashmir Police.

According to preliminary investigations, the vehicle had more than 300 kilos of explosives, including 80 kilogrammes of RDX, a powerful explosive, and ammonium nitrate. According to Lt Gen Hooda, the explosives may have been stolen from a construction site. He initially stated that they could not have been smuggled across the border, but then stated that he could not rule it out.

As DNA tests from “meagre fragments of the car” used in the suicide bombing matched with Adil Ahmad Dar’s father, the National Investigation Agency was able to determine and confirm the identity of the suicide bomber. Despite a year of inquiry, the NIA was unable to pinpoint the source of the explosives. The NIA charged 19 people in its charge-sheet, which was filed in August 2020.

The state funerals for the CRPF jawans who were killed were held in their respective hometowns. On the same day, India removed Pakistan’s most favoured nation designation, imposed a 200% customs charge on all commodities imported into India from Pakistan, and requested the Financial Action Task Force on Money Laundering (FATF) to place Pakistan on its blacklist.

Across India, rallies and candlelight marches were held, while violent protests in Jammu & Kashmir resulted in a curfew. A delegation of Indian doctors canceled their visit to Pakistan for the 13th Association of Anaesthesiologists Congress.

Eurosport India had declared that it will no longer be broadcasting Pakistan Super League matches. AICWA and IFTDA have barred Pakistani artists and actors from working in the Indian film and music industries.

India retaliates

Following intelligence inputs, a joint team of 55 Rashtriya Rifles, CRPF, and Special Operations Group of India killed two terrorists and two supporters in an anti-terrorism encounter operation in Pulwama in the ensuing manhunt for the offenders. Abdul Rasheed Ghazi alias Kamran, a Pakistani national, was revealed as the mastermind of the attack and a commander of the terrorist organisation Jaish-e-Muhammad (JeM). Furthermore, local JeM recruit Hilal Ahmed, as well as two sympathisers who harboured Ghazi and Ahmed to avoid capture, were killed in the encounter. The gunfight claimed the lives of four security men.

On February 26, twelve Indian Air Force Mirage 2000 planes crossed the Line of Control and delivered bombs on Balakot, Pakistan. India said that it bombed a Jaish-e-Mohammed training camp and killed between 300 and 350 terrorists. Pakistan said that they scrambled fighters to intercept the IAF jets, which dropped their payloads and flew back across the Line of Control.

In retaliation for the Indian bombing the day before, the Pakistan Air Force launched an airstrike into Jammu and Kashmir on February 27 failing terribly. 

However, during the aerial combat, an Indian MiG-21 was hit and its pilot Wing Commander Abhinanadan Varthaman was captured by Pakistan. He was released on March 1 by Pakistan and was conferred with Vir Chakra, India’s third-highest wartime gallantry medal.