Pulwama Attack: 44 CRPF jawans martyred in biggest terror strike in Kashmir- All you need to know

More than 2,500 Central Reserve Police Force personnel, many of them returning from leave to rejoin duty in the Valley, were travelling in the convoy of 78 vehicles when they were ambushed on the Srinagar-Jammu highway at Latoomode in Awantipora in south Kashmir around 3.15 pm. 

According to ANI, two buses in the CRPF convoy were targeted in a high-intensity blast. The Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) terror group has claimed responsibility for the attack that took place about 20 km from Srinagar, officials said. The Deobandi jihadist group active in the region, backed by Pakistan, claimed responsibility in a text message to Kashmiri News Agency GNS.

An official statement by CRPF officials said that 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.

"Jammu and Kashmir Police have taken up the investigation. The injured shifted to hospital. Post-blast analysis being done at the spot,"  IG CRPF(Operations) Zulfiqar Hassan said. 

Police identified the suicide bomber as Adil Ahmed, who officials said joined the Jaish in 2018. He was driving a vehicle packed with over 100 kg of explosives on the wrong side of the road and hit the bus, in which 39-44 personnel were travelling, head-on, an official at the spot said.

CRPF DG RR Bhatnagar while expressing grief over the blasts said, "Senior officers are at the spot and the investigation is underway. Injured being taken care of. There were 2500 personnel in the convoy."

The bus that was the focus of the attack belongs to the 76th battalion of the force. "It was a large convoy and about 2,500 personnel were travelling in multiple vehicles. Some shots were also fired at the convoy," CRPF DG R R Bhatnagar said.

The convoy had started from Jammu around 3.30 am and was supposed to reach Srinagar before sunset, officials said. The number of personnel travelling back to the Valley was high as there was no movement on the highway for the last two to three days because of bad weather and other administrative reasons, they said. 

Jammu and Kashmir Governor Satyapal Malik observed forces responsible for the insurgency in the state who are desperate and frustrated and just want to prove presence.

"Visibly it seems to be guided from across the border as Jaish-e-Mohammad has claimed responsibility," Malik told ANI.

Malik has urged all the Security Forces Commanders to enhance surveillance on every front and directed the District and Divisional Civil and Police Administration to immediately review the security management of all important installations and establishments

Former J&K Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti condemned the Pulwama attack. She said "I don't have enough words to condemn this attack. Border skirmishes and surgical strikes are leading to nothing. NDA Govt and all political parties must come together and reach a solution to end this bloodshed"

Home Minister Rajnath Singh is scheduled to visit Srinagar on Friday. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who spoke to Singh and top officials after the attack, termed it despicable and asserted that the sacrifices of security personnel will not go in vain.

Singh, who also spoke to Governor Satya Pal Malik and took stock of the situation, cancelled his engagements in Bihar on Friday. Union Home Secretary Rajiv Gauba cut short his visit to Bhutan. 

Arun Jaitley too has condemned the coward attack. He, as quoted by ANI said, "Attack on CRPF in Pulwama is a coward and condemnable act of terrorists. Nation salutes martyrs and we stand united with families of martyrs. We pray for speedy recovery of the injured. Terrorists will be given an unforgettable lesson for their heinous act"

Post the attack, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval is monitoring the situation in Kashmir. Senior CRPF officials are briefing him on the situation 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who spoke to National Security Advisor Ajit Doval over the Pulwama attack, said, "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."

Modi also spoke to Home Minister Rajnath Singh and other top officials regarding the situation

Congress General Secretary for Uttar Pradesh East Priyanka Gandhi Vadra cancels her scheduled press conference. She said that 'in wake of the unfortunate Pulwama Attack, I don't think it is appropriate to talk politics right now"

K Vijay Kumar, Advisor to J&K Govt told ANI that the death toll in Pulwama attack is around 40

The NIA would be involved in the investigations on the Pulwama terror attack. A 12 member NIA team with a suitable forensic component shall be leaving on Friday morning for Kashmir to assist the J&K Police in forensic evaluation of the spot. An IG rank officer of the NIA will lead the team

Union I&B Ministry issues advisory for television channels in wake of the Pulwama attack 

Union I&B Ministry issues advisory for television channels in wake of #PulwamaAttack pic.twitter.com/rvDvpfeLmZ

— ANI (@ANI) February 14, 2019

Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh said, "The attack was carried out by Pakistan backed Jaish-e-Mohammed. A strong reply will be given and I assure the people of the country this. The country pays tribute to the brave jawans who were martyred."

Meanwhile, police has registered a case in the attack. "Officers investigating this terror crime are at work to establish full circumstances which led to the blast," said J&K police. 

India's Ministry of External Affairs has condemned the attack on CRPF convoy in Pulwama that resulted in death of dozens of security personnel. MEA named Jaish-e-Mohamed as the perpetrator of the attack and accused Pakistan of giving "full freedom" to the organisation.

It also urged members of the international community to support the proposal to list terrorists, including JeM Chief Masood Azhar, as a designated terrorist under UN Security Council. China has repeatedly blocked the move to list Azhar in the list. 

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