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42 CRPF JAWANS KILLED IN PULWAMA BLAST

LETHPORA (PULWAMA): In the deadliest attack of the last 30 years of militancy in Kashmir, a suicide bomber rammed his vehicle into a Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) bus at 3.15 pm today, killing 42 jawans and injuring a dozen others along the Srinagar-Jammu National Highway in Pulwama.

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Majid Jahangir & Suhail A Shah
Tribune News Service

Lethpora (Pulwama), Feb 14

In the deadliest attack of the last 30 years of militancy in Kashmir, a suicide bomber rammed his vehicle into a Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) bus at 3.15 pm today, killing 42 jawans and injuring a dozen others along the Srinagar-Jammu National Highway in Pulwama. However, the CRPF officials have confirmed 37 deaths so far.

The lone Kashmiri suicide bomber of Jaish-e-Mohammad drove a vehicle laden with 250-kg explosives into a CRPF convoy which was on way from Jammu to Srinagar.

“A CRPF bus and another vehicle bore the brunt of the blast at Latoomode in Lethpora,” a police officer said.

Such was the impact of the blast that body parts were scattered at least 500 metres from the site of the blast. 

Due to the blast, glass panes of several houses in the neighbouring areas were smashed. Other vehicles which were part of the convoy also suffered huge damage. Immediately after the  blast, the CRPF men opened fire. At least 78 vehicles of the CRPF were part of the convoy.

“It was gut wrenching and gruesome. As guns stopped roaring and we peeked outside, we could see body parts strewn around, mixed with the damaged parts of the vehicle,” Abdul Karim, a shopkeeper, said.

Pakistan-based militant group JeM, formed in 2000 by Masood Azhar, claimed responsibility for the attack. 

The attack took place despite a Road Opening Party (ROP) being in place. “There was the ROP…  the convoy was coming and there was an explosion. The nature of the explosion, how did it happen are all subjects of investigation,” IGP, Kashmir, SP Pani, said. 

A medico said there was utter chaos after the blast.  

Today’s attack is the deadliest in the history of Kashmir insurgency till date. 

On September 18, 2016,  19 soldiers were killed when a group of fidayeen stormed an Army base close to the LoC in Uri in north Kashmir.

HM visit today; NSG, NIA on way

  • HM Rajnath Singh will hold review meetings with security officials in Srinagar on Friday
  • NSG commandos and NIA sleuths are being sent to the state to join probe 
  • A 78-vehicle convoy with 2,500 CRPF men had left Jammu for Srinagar around 3.30 am
  • An explosive-laden SUV rammed into one of the buses triggering a blast at 3.15 pm at Lethpora
  • Gunshots were heard after the explosion as security forces blocked road, diverted traffic

Major terror strikes

  • June 25, 2016: Eight CRPF jawans killed as bus targeted at Pampore on the Srinagar-Jammu NH
  • June 3: Two CRPF men killed in attack on bus at Pampore. Three soldiers die in subsequent encounter
  • June 24, 2013: Eight soldiers killed after an Army bus ambushed at Hyderpora in Srinagar
  • July 19, 2008: Ten soldiers killed in an IED blast at Narbal on Srinagar-Baramulla highway
  • July 20, 2005: Three jawans killed when a car bomber rams into their vehicle 
  • June 24: Nine Army men killed in a car bomb blast on Srinagar outskirts
  • April 19, 2000: Two soldiers died in the first ‘human bomb’ attack in the Valley when Army headquarters were targeted at Badamibagh in Srinagar

"Attack on CRPF personnel in Pulwama is despicable. I strongly condemn this dastardly attack," Modi tweeted.

Home Minister Rajnath Singh is likely to visit Jammu and Kashmir on Friday after cancelling his programme in Bihar, officials said.

Condemning the attack, Union minister Arun Jaitley tweeted, "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."

Former Jammu and Kashmir chief ministers Omar Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti  condemned the attack. "Terrible news coming from the valley. A number of CRPF soldiers are reported to have been killed & injured in an IED blast. I condemn this attack in the strongest possible terms. My prayers for the injured & condolences to the families of the bereaved," Abdullah tweeted.  

"Disturbing news coming in from #awantipura . Twelve of our security personnel have been martyred and several have been injured. No words are enough to condemn the gruesome terror attack. How many  more lives will be snuffed out before this madness ends?" Mehbooba tweeted. 

Several other mainstream politicians took to social media to condemn the attack. 

Rahul condoles CRPF personnel's death; Cong targets Modi govt

Congress president Rahul Gandhi condoled the killing of CRPF personnel in a terror attack in Pulwama and said it had left him "deeply disturbed".

"I'm deeply disturbed by the cowardly attack on a #CRPF convoy in J&K in which many of our brave CRPF men have been martyred and a large number wounded, some critically. My condolences to the families of our martyrs. I pray for the speedy recovery of the injured," he tweeted.

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