'Don't end it here': Wife of Navy officer killed in Pahalgam hails Operation Sindoor

Himanshi Narwal, widow of Navy officer Lieutenant Vinay Narwal, has become the face of both national grief and resilience following the Pahalgam terror attack and India’s subsequent Operation Sindoor. Just days after her wedding, Himanshi’s life was shattered when her husband was killed during their honeymoon in Kashmir - a tragedy that left the nation mourning and demanding justice.

In the aftermath, Himanshi welcomed the government’s decisive military response, calling Operation Sindoor a “befitting reply” to the terrorists responsible for the attack that claimed 26 lives. “I am thankful to the government but I request them not to end it here. This should just be the beginning to end terrorisms in our country. Our forces and the government have sent a strong message to the terrorists and their handlers. The pain we endured, what 26 families went through has now been made known to those across the border,” she was quoted by PTI.

VIDEO | Operation Sindoor: My husband was in the defence forces and he wanted to protect the peace, protect the innocent lives. He wanted to make sure that there is no hatred and terror in this country. I am thankful to the government, but I request them not to end it here. I pic.twitter.com/gLbZdHJ283
Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) May 7, 2025

Himanshi said she pleaded with the terrorists to spare them. "I told them it had only been six days since my wedding. I asked them for mercy. But the terrorists replied, 'Ask Modi for that'. And today, Modi ji and our Army have given them the answer", she said recalling the day of the ambush.

Even as she grieved, Himanshi had found herself at the centre of a social media storm. Her appeal for unity, specifically her request that people not direct hatred towards Muslims or Kashmiris, was met with a wave of trolling and abuse online. “I was hurt by the way my words were twisted and the abusive language used against me. I am the wife of a brave soldier,” she stated, standing firm despite the vitriol.

The National Commission for Women condemned the trolling, calling it “extremely condemnable and unfortunate” and emphasised that no woman should be targeted for expressing her opinions.

Operation Sindoor itself marked India’s most extensive military action since 1971, targeting nine terror camps across Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. The operation was carefully planned to avoid civilian casualties and focused solely on dismantling terrorist infrastructure. The government described the strikes as “measured and non-escalatory,” underscoring India’s commitment to justice for the victims of Pahalgam.

As the nation united in support of the armed forces, social media also became a battleground for misinformation, reported The Economic Times. Fact-checkers worked round the clock to debunk a flood of fake posts and videos falsely attributed to the operation, highlighting the challenges of navigating truth in the digital age.