Thursday, February 14, 2019
Shubham kr barnwal
February 14, 2019
40 jawans killed as explosive-laden car rams into CRPF
convoy in Kashmir
At least 40 Central Reserve Police Force jawans were killed
and more than 20 others injured in a blast in Jammu and Kashmir on Thursday.
The blast was triggered by militants to target two vehicles carrying the CRPF
jawans.

At least 40 Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) jawans were
killed and more than 20 others injured in a blast in Jammu and Kashmir on
Thursday, news agency ANI reports. The blast was triggered by militants to
target two vehicles carrying the CRPF jawans.
“Death toll in the Pulwama attack is around 40,” K Vijay
Kumar, advisor to the Jammu and Kashmir Governor, told ANI. The blast ripped
through one of the buses the jawans were travelling in. The death toll is
likely to go up. (Live Updates)
A Jaish-e-Mohammed terrorist rammed an explosive-laden
vehicle into the bus they were travelling in, PTI report said. The bus which
came under the main impact of the blast belonged to 76 battalion of the CRPF.
Also Read| Timeline of major attacks on security forces in
Kashmir
As per commuters list, there were 39 personnel travelling in
the bus. The IED blast reduced the bus to a mangled heap of iron and body parts
could be seen strewn around the area, the agency reported.
“There were 70 vehicles in the convoy and one of the
vehicles came under attack. The convoy was on its way from Jammu to Srinagar,”
said CRPF (Operations) Inspector General Zulfiqar Hassan adding that the Jammu
and Kashmir police have taken over the investigation into the terror attack.
“There were about 2500 personnel in the convoy,” news agency
ANI quoted CRPF Director General RR Bhatnagar as saying on Pulwama attack.
Militant group Jaish-e-Mohammad claimed responsibility for
the blast and said it was a fidayeen attack carried out by a local youth.
Police identified the terrorist as Adil Ahmad from Kakapora in Pulwama. He
joined the Jaish-Mohammed in 2018, PTI quoted officials as saying.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi condemned the terror attack on
the CRPF convoy. “Attack on CRPF personnel in Pulwama is despicable. I strongly
condemn this dastardly attack. Sacrifices of our brave security personnel shall
not go in vain. The entire nation stands shoulder to shoulder with the families
of the brave martyrs. May the injured recover quickly,” PM Modi was quoted as
saying by ANI.
Also Read| ‘No words’: Political leaders across parties
unite in grief on J&K attack
PM Modi spoke to Home Minister Rajnath Singh and other top
officials regarding the situation in the wake of the attack in Pulwama, the
agency said. Singh, who spoke to Jammu and Kashmir Governor Satyapal Malik and
CRPF’s Bhatnagar over Pulwama attack, will be visiting Srinagar on Friday.
Reacting to the terror incident, Congress president Rahul Gandhi
termed it a “cowardly attack”. Gandhi wrote on Twitter, “I’m deeply disturbed
by the cowardly attack on a #CRPF convoy in J&K in which 10 of our brave
men have been martyred and many others wounded. My condolences to the families
of our martyrs. I pray for the speedy recovery of the injured.”
Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra expressed
her solidarity with the families of the jawans killed in the terror attack.
Priyanka Gandhi cancelled her press conference in Lucknow after observing two-minute
silence for the martyrs saying, “I don’t think it is appropriate to talk
politics right now.”
Read More| Explosive-laden vehicle rams into CRPF convoy in
Kashmir, 18 jawans killed
“I want to say that not only the Congress but the entire
country is standing shoulder to shoulder with the families of our brave
soldiers. But we must also reflect and be concerned about the high number of
casualties in Kashmir,” said Priyanka Gandhi before calling off her press
interaction.
Union minister Arun Jaitley promised “unforgettable lesson”
to the militants for the terror attack. He said, “Attack on CRPF in #Pulwama,
J&K is a cowardice & condemnable act of terrorists. Nation salutes
martyred soldiers and we all stand united with families of martyrs. We pray for
speedy recovery of the injured. Terrorists will be given unforgettable lesson
for their heinous act.”
The incident took place at Lethpora, about 30 km from
Srinagar on the Jammu-Srinagar highway around 3.15 pm. Jammu and Kashmir police
spokesperson has confirmed that it was an improvised explosive device
(IED) blast.The explosion was followed by gunshots aimed at the security forces
in Pulwama district of the state.
The IED was placed in a vehicle, which was parked on the
national highway, guarded by the CRPF, Jammu and Kashmir police and the army.
The security forces have begun a search operation.
The news agency, quoting Jammu and Kashmir Raj Bhawan PRO,
reported that Governor Malik blamed the Pulwama attack on forces “from across
the border.”
Read More| ‘Maar diya, Maar diya’: Video captures horror of
Pulwama terror attack
“Forces responsible for the insurgency in Jammu and Kashmir
are desperate and frustrated and just want to prove their presence. Visibly it
seems to be guided from across border as Jaish-e-Mohammad has claimed
responsibility,” Mallik said, according to ANI.
Following the terror attack, the Congress mounted its attack
on the Narendra Modi government. Congress spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala
condemned the “cowardly terror attack on our jawans in Pulwama”.
On Twitter, he said, “Our homage to the 18 brave hearts who
made the supreme sacrifice and condolences to their family. Uri, Pathankot,
Pulwama- the terror list and compromise of National Security by Modi government
continues unabated.”
“This is the 18th big terror attack in the last 5 years
under this Modi Govt. When will the 56-inch chest reply,” ANI quoted Surjewala
as saying.
The Jammu-Srinagar highway incident is one of the deadliest
terror attacks on the security forces in the state. In September 2016,
militants targeted Uri army camp in the state killing 19 soldiers.
Also Read| Uri attack: 17soldiers killed, army says
Pakistan-based Jaish involved
Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister and National
Conference leader Omar Abdullah called the attack a “reminiscent” of pre-2004
days in the Valley. “Jaish has claimed the blast as a suicide (fidaeen) attack
reminiscent of the dark days of militancy pre-2004-05,” Abdullah wrote on
Twitter adding, “I condemn this attack in the strongest possible terms. My
prayers for the injured & condolences to the families of the bereaved.”
PDP chief and former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister
Mehbooba Mufti also condemned the terror attack in Pulwama. She said, “No words
are enough to condemn the gruesome terror attack. How many more lives will be
snuffed out before this madness ends?”
“Extremely shocking news coming from Pulwama (J&K). I
strongly condemn the terror attack on CRPF convoy in which many casualties are
feared. India must stand united in this moment of grief,” said Delhi Chief
Minister and Aam Aadmi Party convener Arvind Kejriwal.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee also expressed
condolences to the families of the jawans killed in the terror attack.
“Saddened that 13 CRPF jawans became martyrs today in Pulwama. We salute our
brave jawans and extend our solidarity and condolences to their families. Our
prayers for those injured. We wish them a speedy recovery,” reads her post on
Twitter.
National Security Advisor Ajit Doval is monitoring the
situation in Kashmir post-Pulwama attack. Senior CRPF officials are briefing
him on the situation.