New Delhi: A picture of Russian President Vladimir Putin with tears in his eyes and praying on his knees is rarely seen, but on Tuesday this scene caught the attention of the whole world. Actually, the Russian President was on a visit to the city of Beslan, where he paid tribute to those killed in the terrorist attack in 2004.

According to a report by Russian media The Moscow Times, in a video released by the President's Office, Putin can be seen laying flowers at the City of Angels Memorial Cemetery in honor of the victims. Apart from this, he kneels down in respect and prays by making a cross with his hands. After this, he was seen laying flowers at the memorial dedicated to the FSB special forces fighters.

The deadliest attack in modern Russian history 

This emotional picture of Putin once again refreshed the memories of the heinous attack of 20 years ago. According to The Moscow Times, the deadliest terrorist attack in modern Russian history took place on 1 September 2004, when a group of terrorists entered a school in Beslan and took the people present there hostage.

Armed militants from Chechnya held more than 1,100 people hostage for two days at Beslan School No. 1. Two days later, President Putin ordered Russian troops to storm the school building. The troops entered the school and engaged in a gunfight with the militants, killing 31 of them. However, by the end of the attack, 334 civilians, including 186 children, were also killed. The incident was mourned across the world, including Russia.

Putin met with the mothers of the victims

During his visit to Beslan, Putin also met the mothers of those killed in the attack. During this, Putin, without naming any country, said that efforts were made abroad to justify the Beslan terrorist attack as well as provide all kinds of assistance to the terrorists.