Indian cricketers, on Sunday, took to social media to pay tribute to the 22 CRPF Bravehearts who were martyred following a deadly face-off with the Naxals along the Sukma+Bijapur border.
It all started on Saturday after a separate team of CRPF forces launched a massive anti-Naxal operation in South Bastar forests following a tip-off about top Naxal leader Madvi Hidma, the chief perpetrator of the 2013 Jhiran Ghati killings, in which over 30 people were massacred.
22 security personnel have lost their lives in the Naxal attack at Sukma-Bijapur in Chhattisgarh, says SP Bijapur, Kamalochan Kashyap
Visuals from the Sukma-Bijapur Naxal attack site pic.twitter.com/C3VvAdvjaN
— ANI (@ANI) April 4, 2021
The gunfight took place when the patrolling team which was dispatched from Tarren was inside the forest near Jonaguda. The cadres of the Peoples’ Liberation Guerilla Ay battalion ambushed the team, leading to heavy firing for hours. The three-hour encounter saw five jawans get martyred
Then on Sunday, 17 CRPF jawan bodies were found, taking the total death toll to 22 with 31 sustaining injuries. One soldier is still believed to be missing.
Chattisgarh DGP DM Awasthi and CRPF DG Kuldeep Singh confirmed the death toll.
#WATCH | On ground visuals from the site of Naxal attack at Sukma-Bijapur border in Chhattisgarh; 22 security personnel have lost their lives in the attack pic.twitter.com/nulO8I2GKn
— ANI (@ANI) April 4, 2021
Since then, tributes have poured in for the fallen Bravehearts from every nook and corner of the country.
Here’s how Indian cricketers paid tribute to the martyred CRPF Bravehearts:
Absolutely tragic to hear about the loss of lives of our brave jawans. My condolences to the bereaved families. 🙏
— Virat Kohli (@imVkohli) April 4, 2021
Heart breaking to hear the news of loss of 22 security personnel and injuries to many in the #NaxalAttack in Sukma in Chhattisgarh. Nation is indebted to the jawans who laid down their lives. Naman to the martyrs.
— Virender Sehwag (@virendersehwag) April 4, 2021
Nation bows down to the sacrifice of our bravehearts. Enemy within is as barbaric as enemy outside. Won’t let this sacrifice go in vain. #NaxalAttack
— Gautam Gambhir (@GautamGambhir) April 4, 2021
Saddened to hear about the Naxal Attack in Chhattisgarh. My heartfelt condolences to the family’s of all the martyrs 🙏
— Ajinkya Rahane (@ajinkyarahane88) April 4, 2021
My condolences to the loved ones of the brave jawans who were killed. Thoughts and prayers with their family.
— Shikhar Dhawan (@SDhawan25) April 4, 2021
My condolences to the brave sons of the nation martyred in the Maoist attack in Chhattisgarh. My heart goes out to their families. #NaxalAttack #शहीद pic.twitter.com/b2Tg39HYoP
— R P Singh रुद्र प्रताप सिंह (@rpsingh) April 4, 2021
Distressed to see the killing of at least 22 of our jawans by naxals in Chhattisgarh. Any life lost hurts, but for any nation, the life of its jawan is priceless. They are the real desh-bhakts. Hope the real culprits are brought to justice.
Om Shanti
Jai Hind 🇮🇳— Suresh Raina🇮🇳 (@ImRaina) April 4, 2021
Saddened by the news coming out. Thoughts, prayers and condolences with the loved ones of our jawaans. #NaxalAttack
— Krunal Pandya (@krunalpandya24) April 4, 2021
Losing lives always hurts and if it’s of our jawans it hurts more. #Chhattisgarh
— Irfan Pathan (@IrfanPathan) April 4, 2021
I salute the valiant sacrifice of our jawans martyred in Sukma. May the brave hearts who fought for our motherland #RIP and my condolences to their families 🙏🙏
— Ravindrasinh jadeja (@imjadeja) April 4, 2021
Absolutely tragic to hear about the loss of lives of our brave soldiers,my deepest condolences to the bereaved families. 🙏 nobody can match their commitment, Jai Hind 🇮🇳
— Sunil Joshi | ಸುನಿಲ್ ಜೋಶಿ (@SunilJoshi_Spin) April 4, 2021
Rest in peace to all bravehearts who lost their lives… 🙏🙏 #heartbroken #NaxalAttack
— Surya Kumar Yadav (@surya_14kumar) April 4, 2021