The death toll of CRPF jawans killed in a massive blast in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pulwama rose to 40, several injured. The CRPF convoy was targeted with a car bomb at Awantipora in what is the worst attack in decades on security personnel in the Jammu and Kashmir. All injured have been shifted been to the army base hospital in Srinagar.
As per initial reports vehicle used by the terrorists was a Mahindra Scorpio bearing more than 350 kg of explosives. The mobile internet services have been snapped in the whole of South Kashmir and speed slowed to 2G in Srinagar district.
Home Ministry sources said that Pakistan backed terrorists attacked the car bomb while 78 vehicles with over 2,500 CRPF men were on the Srinagar-Jammu highway.
Pakistan backed Jaish-e-Mohammed claims responsibility for Pulwama IED terror attack, in a text message to Kashmiri News Agency GNS. “Two buses in the CRPF convoy were targeted in a high-intensity IED blast,” reports news agency ANI.
CRPF DG RR Bhatnagar has stated, “Senior officers at the spot, the investigation is underway. Injured being taken care of. There was 2500 personnel in the convoy.”
According to reports an improvised explosive device was the cause of the explosion at Goripora area in Awantipora. Gunshots were reported from the area after the blast occurred.
Tomorrow morning a 12 member team of NIA with suitable forensic component will leave for Kashmir to assist the Jammu & Kashmir Police in forensic evaluation of the spot. An IG rank officer of the NIA will lead the team.
According to media reports, the 54 Battalion of CRPF was targeted by the terrorists as their vehicle was attacked with an IED blast on Thursday afternoon in the Awantipora area of the Pulwama district on the Jammu-Srinagar highway.
“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,” former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah tweeted.
An eyewitness said that soon after the blast, people of the area have started moving towards the spot, reported local leading portal. Meanwhile, a police official confirmed the incident and said a police team is on the spot to assess the situation.
