From a 11-year-old, to cricketers, actors, and organisations, India unites to support families of CRPF martyrs

As the country mourns the loss of the CRPF personnel killed in Pulwama terror attack, people from across the nation come forward to support their families.

On Thursday, February 14, a suicide bomber attacked a CRPF convoy near Pulwama in Kashmir, in which 44 paramilitary police lost their lives. While the entire nation was shocked by the ghastly attack and prayed for the martyred soldiers, a few demanded stringent action against the terror outfit behind the attack.

Also read: Pulwama terror attack: Here’s how you can help the families of the CRPF martyrs

In order to help the families who have lost their loved ones in the attack, many people across the country have come forward to support them. From businessman to sportspersons, people have poured in their support in many ways.

Businessman cancels daughter’s reception

Surat-based businessman Dewashi Manek has come forward and donated Rs 11 lakh, which he had saved up to throw his daughter a wedding reception. The trader, who is a diamond businessman, has also contributed an additional Rs 5 lakh to the service agencies to help the families of the soldiers, reports The Chronicle.

Also read: Salim Mirza, driver of the terror-hit Amarnath bus, saves 50 lives

Bollywood artistes donate money

Bollywood star Amitabh Bachchan tweeted that he will be donating Rs 5 lakh to each martyr's family, which will amount to Rs 2.5 crore, reports India Today.

A spokesperson of the 76-year-old actor said to a news agency,

Yes, Mr Bachchan will be giving Rs 5 lakh each to the martyrs’ families and is currently finding out the correct process to do so.

Amitabh Bachchan was joined by Akshay Kumar, who has donated Rs 5 crore through ‘Bharat Ke Veer,’ the online platform collecting money for the soldiers. Salman Khan has also contributed an unknown sum for the welfare of the martyred CRPF personnel’s families. Both these actors have also urged their Twitter followers to make donations. Singer and actor Diljit Dosanjh and Bollywood singer Badshah also donated Rs 3 lakh each to the victims of the Pulwama attacks, reports India Today.

The donation through Bharat Ke Veer crossed Rs 7 crore on Monday evening.

BSF Inspector General Amit Lodha in an official statement said,

We have received unprecedented donations at the online portal in the last 36 hours, and the amount is over Rs 7 crore.

“Never in the two-year history of this benevolent public fund for CRPF martyrs such a huge contribution has come in such a short time. We are grateful to the people of the country for expressing their solidarity with the martyrs,” Moneycontrol reports he added.

Besides individual donations, the team of upcoming film Total Dhamaal donated Rs 50 lakh for the same. The team of the movie Uri: The Surgical Strike said that it had committed Rs 1 crore to the families of the URI attack, and will ensure that a part of it goes to the victims of the Pulwama attack, reports Republic.

People donate blood in Shimoga

Honouring the lives of our brave soldiers who lost their lives in the attack, a blood donation camp was organised in Shimoga district of Karnataka. Around 200 people donated blood in the camp, reports ANI.

Also read: This journalist’s mission has saved 5,000 girls from sex trafficking

Indian athletes to help families individually

A report by India Today states that BCCI acting president CK Khanna requested Vinod Rai, Chief, the Committee of Administrations (CoA), to sanction Rs 5 crore to the families. He also urged the IPL franchise owners to contribute towards the cause.

In a statement, he said,

As a mark of respect to the Central Reserve Force Personnel (CRPF) martyred in the terror attack, we should observe a two-minute silence during the first match of the India vs Australia series starting February 24, and also during the opening ceremony/inaugural match of the Indian Premier League starting March 23.

Former Indian batsman Virender Sehwag has offered to take care of the educational expenses of all the martyr’s children, reports NDTV.

Expressing his concern, he tweeted saying,

Nothing we do will be enough, but the least I can do is offer to take complete care of the education of the children of our brave CRPF jawans martyred in #Pulwama in my Sehwag International School @SehwagSchool, Jhajjar. Saubhagya hoga.

Indian cricketer Shikar Dhawan has also come forward to donate money to the families of the CRPF martyrs. The left-handed batsmen uploaded a video on his Twitter account where he stated that he would help as much as he can.

He tweeted,

I wanted to tell you that our 40 brothers were martyred three days ago. Our country has gone through such a huge setback. Their families have faced such a huge loss that we can never fulfill. So, I have thought that I will donate money to these families. I will help as much as I can. I request the same from you to support their families. This is the time for us to step forward and give shoulders to their families to move on and continue to live with pride. I request you to support them. Jai Hind!

Eleven-year-old girl donates money

Apart from celebrities and sportspersons, 11-year-old Muskan Ahirwar from Bhopal has donated Rs 628 to the District Sainik Kalyan Office (DSKO) in Bhopal. She had saved the amount for her birthday.

Witnessing her contribution, many of her neighbours also pooled in and donated money, totalling to Rs 1,100.

Speaking to News 18 she said,

At the time when our soldiers were dying in cowardly terror attacks, how can I celebrate my birthday? My grandmother also says one should do some welfare on one’s birthday. So, what better thing I can do than donating this money to the welfare of our soldiers?

Reliance and Apollo offer help

A statement by the Reliance Foundation said that it was ready to take full responsibility of the livelihood of families affected from the Pulwama terror attack. Besides this, it will also take care of education and employment of the martyr’s children, reports Khaleej Times.

Meanwhile, Apollo Hospitals has offered free treatment to the survivors of the attack.

In a statement, it said,

We offer to treat the CRPF troops injured in the terror attack till recovery and rehabilitation at any of our hospitals across the country,” reports News Experts.

In addition to this, online payment apps like Paytm and Google Pay have come up with an option called ‘CRPF Bravehearts’ on their platforms to allow its users to donate money to the CRPF martyrs' families.

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