Kolkata/Nadia, 7 May (H.S.): As the nation welcomes the Indian Army’s strong counter-offensive under ‘Operation Sindoor’ targeting terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, the families of those martyred in the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack are experiencing a complex mix of emotions—ranging from pride to lingering sorrow.

Shabari Guha, wife of slain junior statistical officer Samir Guha from Kolkata’s Behala area, expressed her support for the operation but admitted she is not fully satisfied. “I support Operation Sindoor, but the fight is not over. True justice will be served only when Pakistan is completely free of terrorism,” she said.

Samir, the sole breadwinner of his family, left behind a wife, a daughter named Shubhangi, and an ongoing home loan. Shabari has reiterated her plea to the central government for a job in her husband’s place, saying, “No compensation can truly replace what we’ve lost. All we want is a future free from such tragedies.”

Meanwhile, in Nadia district, the family of Subedar Jhantu Ali Sheikh, also martyred in the same attack, reacted with both emotion and a sense of justice. The news of Operation Sindoor brought tears to the eyes of his wife, Shehnaz Parveen, as she watched television footage of the strikes. “At last, there is an answer,” she said.

Their 12-year-old son, who had carried his father’s body to the grave, was seen smiling with quiet pride. Jhantu’s brother, Rafiqul Sheikh—a fellow Subedar in the Indian Army—added, “My brother’s sacrifice was not in vain. This is his victory. We thank the Prime Minister and the Home Minister for honoring the sentiments of the nation.”

Hindusthan Samachar / Satya Prakash Singh