Around 44 personnel of the Central Reserve Police Force were killed and several injured after a suspected militant drove an explosive-laden vehicle into a bus in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pulwama district on Thursday, ANI reported.
This was one of the worst terror strikes in the state since the attack on the Uri military base in September 2016, in which 18 Army jawans had died and dozens were injured.
Inspector General of Police (Kashmir Range) SP Pani told News18 that the toll is expected to rise. Authorities have suspended internet and mobile data services in the area.
The Jaish-e-Mohammed militant outfit claimed responsibility for the attack. Officials said Pulwama-based militant Adil Ahmad, who joined the outfit last year, was the main perpetrator. In a statement, a Jaish spokesperson Muhammad Hassan said the attack had destroyed “dozens of forces’ vehicles”, Rising Kashmir reported.
More than 2,500 CRPF personnel were travelling in a convoy of 78 vehicles when they were ambushed on the Srinagar-Jammu highway. Many of the soldiers were returning from leave and rejoining duty in the Valley. The bus that was attacked belonged to the 54th battalion of the CRPF and had 44 personnel on board, said unidentified officials.
The convoy had left Jammu around 3:30am and was supposed to reach Srinagar before sunset. “It was a large convoy and about 2,500 personnel were travelling in multiple vehicles,” said CRPF Director General RR Bhatnagar. “Some shots were also fired at the convoy.”
CRPF (Operations) Inspector General Zulfiqar Hassan told ANI that the Jammu and Kashmir Police has taken up the investigation. “The injured have been shifted to hospital,” he said. “A post-blast analysis is being done at the spot.”
According to local news agencies, a red alert has been issued across Kashmir.
Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh spoke to Jammu and Kashmir Governor Satya Pal Malik and will visit Srinagar on Friday. According to the Raj Bhawan Public Relations Officer, Malik has directed all security forces’ commanders to increase surveillance. He has also asked the district and divisional civil and police administration to review the security management of all important installations and establishments in the state.
‘A gruesome terror attack’
Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he strongly condemned the “despicable and dastardly” attack. “The sacrifices of our brave security personnel shall not go in vain,” he tweeted. “The entire nation stands shoulder to shoulder with the families of the brave martyrs. May the injured recover quickly.” He added that he spoke to Home Minister Rajnath Singh regarding the situation.
Several other political leaders, including former chief ministers Mehbooba Mufti and Omar Abdullah, condemned the attack. “Terrible news coming from the valley,” Abdullah, who is also the chief of the National Conference, tweeted. “I condemn this attack in the strongest possible terms. My prayers for the injured and condolences to the families of the bereaved.”
Peoples Democratic Party chief Mehbooba Mufti said in a tweet: “No words are enough to condemn the gruesome terror attack. How many more lives will be snuffed out before this madness ends?”
