In a touching gesture, cricketer Gautam Gambhir has pledged to bear all the education related expenses of the children of the 25 CRPF jawans who were martyred in Sukma on 24th April. This attack was one of the deadliest by the Maoists in recent times.
The sacrifice by the CRPF jawans have now spurred Gambhir’s decision which was confirmed by his media manager:
Gautam Gambhir to bear full expenses of the children of 25 CRPF personnel killed in Sukma attack, Gambhir’s media manager confirms to ANI pic.twitter.com/CQwnPsUI0r
— ANI (@ANI_news) April 28, 2017
According to reports the support would be extended via the Gautam Gambhir foundation and initial steps have already been taken in this regards. Gambhir was reportedly spurred to take this decision after he was shaken by the incident and the pictures of grieving daughters of two martyred CRPF jawans.
The Sukma attack had also evoked an emotional response from Gambhir on Twitter:
As we crib over lack of air conditioning or size of our already mammoth SUV, let’s ponder over d future of d daughters of CRPF martyrs. pic.twitter.com/XhBbbaFEgD
— Gautam Gambhir (@GautamGambhir) April 26, 2017
25 CRPF men sacrificed lives for d country. Sometimes I wonder if we deserve their sacrifice!!! pic.twitter.com/yKN8bzEom2
— Gautam Gambhir (@GautamGambhir) April 26, 2017
This tragic incident had also prompted the IPL franchise Kolkata Knight Riders, of which Gambhir is the captain, to wear black armbands during their match on Wednesday. This idea too was reportedly suggested by Gambhir.
Gambhir is known to be a vocal supporters of our security forces. Recently after the CRPF Jawans were assaulted by Kashmiri locals, Gambhir had taken to Twitter to support the armed forces, which had prompted certain trolls to attack him for his stance.