PATNA: Grief and pride intertwined in Aruhi village, Bihar, as the community paid their final respects to Manish Ranjan, a soldier martyred in the terrorist attack on April 22 in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir. On the same day that his family performed his thirteenth-day mourning rituals, news of India’s retaliatory military offensive—Operation Sindoor—reached the village, transforming the atmosphere of sorrow into one of national pride.
Manish Ranjan’s death at the hands of terrorists sparked a wave of outrage across the country. His funeral, attended by relatives, friends, and villagers, became a solemn occasion marked by heartfelt tributes. However, the mood shifted later in the day when villagers learned that India had launched a major retaliatory strike against terror camps across Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), specifically targeting Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed facilities.
The operation, launched by the Indian Army, Air Force, and Navy, has been hailed as one of the most significant cross-border responses since the 2019 Balakot airstrikes. As the news of the military action spread, the silence of mourning in Aruhi was replaced by chants of “Bharat Mata Ki Jai” and “Manish Ranjan Amar Rahein,” as villagers lit earthen lamps to honour their fallen hero.
Shashi Mishra, Manish’s brother and an Intelligence Bureau officer, expressed his sense of pride in the Indian Army’s actions. “This is a proud moment for every family that has lost a son to terrorism,” he said. “Manish’s sacrifice has not been forgotten. The message to our enemies is clear—we will not forget, and we will not forgive.”
For the people of Aruhi, the operation took on a deeply personal meaning. Deepak Kumar Mishra, Manish’s uncle, referred to the attack on their village’s beloved son as an assault on their dignity, adding: “They took the sindoor of our daughters and sisters, and we answered with Operation Sindoor. This is not just military might—it is a statement of national dignity.”
