West Bengal

IIE Digital Desk :  The air in a small village in Murshidabad was filled with both pride and emotion as news of Operation Sindoor — India’s recent retaliatory strike against terror camps in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir — reached the home of martyr Jhantu Sheikh, a jawan of the Indian Army who laid down his life in a militant ambush two years ago.

Jhantu Sheikh’s widow, Asma Khatun, who had long waited for a sense of justice, broke into tears of both sorrow and satisfaction upon hearing that Indian forces had struck back. “I feel like my husband's soul will finally rest in peace. What the Indian Army has done with Operation Sindoor is nothing short of justice,” she said, holding a photo of Jhantu in his uniform, now adorned with a fresh garland of flowers.

Operation Sindoor, which involved high-precision strikes on nine terror launchpads across the LoC, has reignited a wave of patriotic emotion across the country. But for families like Jhantu Sheikh’s, it is deeply personal. The pain of loss has never fully faded, but moments like these serve as a powerful reminder that their sacrifice was not in vain.

Jhantu Sheikh was posted in Jammu and Kashmir when his convoy was ambushed by heavily armed militants in 2023. He fought bravely until his last breath, and his death had left a permanent void in the lives of his wife, two children, and aging parents. Today, his home is decorated with the national flag and candles as neighbors, friends, and local politicians arrive to offer their respects once again — this time, not in mourning, but in tribute to the courage he embodied.

“I miss him every single day,” said Asma, holding back tears. “But today, for the first time, I feel he has been avenged. Our country has not forgotten him.”

His 12-year-old son, Riyan, who wants to join the Army like his father, proudly said, “Baba was a hero. I will also serve the country and make him proud.”

Local residents of the village echoed the family's feelings. “This operation shows that India will not tolerate terrorism anymore. It gives hope to the families who have lost sons to cowardly attacks,” said Abdul Karim, a retired schoolteacher and a neighbor of the Sheikh family.

The news of the retaliatory operation also brought some recognition to the forgotten sacrifices of soldiers in smaller towns and rural corners of India. “We often hear about martyrs during Republic Day or Independence Day, but today, the whole country is talking about their revenge. It’s empowering,” said Subrata Mondal, a local youth leader.

Government officials, too, paid homage to Jhantu Sheikh's family. A local MLA visited the home, praising their strength and reaffirming support from the state. “Martyrs like Jhantu Sheikh are the backbone of this nation. Their sacrifice will never be forgotten, and this operation proves that India honors its brave,” he said.