The cricket fraternity has shown its support for bringing justice to the martyrs' families.
At least 37 jawans of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) were martyred when a bus they were travelling in was ripped through in a fidayeen attack (suicide attack) in Jammu and Kashmir's Pulwama district on Thursday. Indian captain Virat Kohli joined a number of present and former cricketers in condemning the attack while sending condolences to the families of the martyrs.
"I'm shocked after hearing about the attack in Pulwama, heartfelt condolences to the martyred soldiers & prayers for the speedy recovery of the injured jawaans," Virat Kohli tweeted.
Other cricketers including the likes of Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan joined their captain in deploring the attack.
Former India opener Gautam Gambhir, who likes to play with a straight bat even off the field, had also condemned the gruesome terror attack via this tweet: "Yes, let’s talk with the separatists. Yes, let’s talk with Pakistan. But this time conversation can’t be on the table, it has to be in a battle ground. Enough is enough. 18 CRPF personnel killed in an IED blast on Srinagar-Jammu highway."
Gambhir's teammates from his playing days, Virender Shewag and VVS Laxman too on Thursday denounced the deadly attack.
"Really pained by the cowardly attack on our CRPF in J&K in which our brave men have been martyred. No words are enough to describe the pain. I wish a speedy recovery to those injured," Sehwag tweeted.
"Sad and pained to hear about the dastardly attack on our brave CRPF men in #Pulwama in which many of our jawans have been martyred. I pray for a quick and speedy recovery of those injured in the attack," Laxman wrote in a tweet.
Terror group Jaish-e-Mohammed has claimed responsibility for the dastardly attack, officials said. The powerful explosion, which reduced the bus to a mangled heap of iron, was heard many kilometres away. Reacting to the attack, PM Narendra Modi said that the sacrifices of the security personnel shall not go in vain.
