Patna/IBNS: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday said the Indian Army reduced the terrorist hideouts in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir and beyond to ruins to avenge the Pahalgam terror attack.

Addressing a rally in Bihar's Karakat, Modi reminded the people that he kept his promise of a revenge of the terror attack that had killed 26 tourists at Baisaran Valley in Pahalgam.

"A day after the heinous terrorist attack, I had come to Bihar, and from this soil, I had made a promise to the nation... I had said that they (terrorists and their backers) would face a punishment greater than their imagination.

"Today, I came to Bihar after fulfilling my resolution. Our Army turned the hideouts of terrorists, who ruined our sisters' sindoor sitting in Pakistan, into ruins," the Prime Minister said.

"Pakistan as well as the world have seen the power of sindoor. Our forces brought the Pakistani Army, under whose shadow terrorists considered themselves safe, to their knees in a single blow," he added, speaking in the poll-bound state.

What did Modi say on April 24?

Addressing a rally in Bihar's Madhubani on April 24, Modi had said: "From the soil of Bihar I tell the whole world that India will identify them and punish every terrorist and their backers. We will pursue them to the end of the earth. India's spirit will never be broken by terrorism. Terrorism will not go unpunished."

"Every effort will be made to ensure justice is done," he said, adding that the entire country is grieving the merciless killings."

Operation Sindoor

Operation Sindoor was a fierce military operation launched by the Indian Air Force (IAF) on the intervening night of May 6 and 7, in response to the Pahalgam attack that killed 26 tourists who were enjoying their vacation at Baisaran Valley, which is referred to as India's Switzerland.

The operation aimed to dismantle terrorist bases in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).

After the Pakistan Army again targeted Indian civilians and resorted to cross-border firing, the Indian Armed Forces retaliated, destroying defence systems of the hostile neighbour.

On Pakistan's appeal, India responded with a ceasefire on May 10 but Prime Minister Narendra Modi warned of fresh retaliation if Islamabad goes astray.