20 CRPF men killed, more than 40 injured in Lethpora car-bomb blast

Jaish claims fidayeen attack on CRPF convoy

SRINAGAR, FEB 14 (PTK): At least 20 Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel were killed and over 40 injured after militants targeted a convoy with a powerful explosive at Awantipora in Pulwama district today, reports said.

Militants group Jaish-e-Mohammed has claimed responsibility for the attack. Fifteen of the injured are said to be in a critical condition.

The spokesperson identified the driver (of JeM) who carried out the fidayeen attack as Aadil Ahmad alias Waqas Commando of Gundi Bagh, Pulwama

The nature of the device used to cause the explosion, which occurred in Goripora area, is yet to be ascertained. The injured have been moved to the army base hospital in Srinagar.

Reports suggest that the militants triggered the blast while the CRPF personnel were plying through the Srinagar-Jammu highway. The stretch on which the incident occurred was largely believe to be sanitised of militancy activities, and the authorities have termed it as a “serious breach” of security.

Vice President Jammu and Kashmir National Conference and former chief minister Omar Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti has condemned the Pulwama ‘fidayeen attack’.

Omar wrote on twitter “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.”

In another tweet Omar Abdullah said “Jaish has claimed the blast as a suicide (fidaeen) attack reminiscent of the dark days of militancy pre 2004-05”.

President Peoples Democratic Party and former chief minister Mehbooba Mufti also condemned the attack and 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?”

Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC) also has strongly condemned the attack on CRPF Convoy leaving 20 personnel dead, as reported and score injured.

The Party described it as cowardly and inhuman attack on the part of attacker and conveyed deepest condolences to bereaved families of slain CRPF Personnel.

In Statement issued the J&K Pradesh Congress Committee Spokesperson has strongly condemned the suicide attack on CRPF Personnel and blamed  Centre Govt for miserably failing to  restore peace in valley, saying that the wrongly policies adopted by the Centre Govt has vitiated the peace further in Kashmir valley and there was no end to bloodshed.

Calling the Awantipora attack as gruesome, cowardly and terrible, the Spokesperson conveyed deepest condolences to bereaved families of slain CRPF personnel and sympathized with them.

Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik wrote on twitter: Deeply saddened by the martyrdom of so many CRPF jawans in the terrorist attack in Pulwama district of Jammu and Kashmir. Strongly condemn the cowardly act and condolences to the bereaved families”.

The Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) spokesman said number of deaths and injuries to the personnel in Lethpora attack have not been ascertained yet.

Speaking to News agency Press Trust of Kashmir CRPF spokesman Rajesh Yadav said “the exact number of deaths and injuries in the attack are yet to be ascertained.”

However Zulfiqar Hassan, IG CRPF (Operations) said that J&K Police has taken up the investigation. The injured shifted to hospital. Post-blast analysis being done at the spot.

Meanwhile Congress attacked the Modi government and said that it is compromising the national security. Twelve were killed and more than 40 CRPF soldier were injured in the Pulwama militants attack.

Saddened those 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: Mamata Banerjee.

Senior leader of the Indian National Congress Ahmed Patel wrote on twitter “The horrific attack on our CRPF jawans is an act of supreme cowardice. Perpetrators of such terrorist acts are out to destabilise Jammu & Kashmir but sacrifice of our brave jawans will not go in vain. India stands firmly behind their families & loved ones in this hour of grief”.

Rahul Gandhi tweets that “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,” said Rahul Gandhi in a tweet, condemning the IED blast in Pulwama, Jammu and Kashmir. “My condolences to the families of our martyrs. I pray for the speedy recovery of the injured,” he added in the tweet.

Vijay Kumar Singh tweet “As a soldier and a citizen of India, my blood boils at the spineless and cowardly attacks. 18 brave hearts from the CRPF laid down their lives in Pulwama. I salute their selfless sacrifice & promise that every drop of our soldier’s blood will be avenged”.

There were 50 vehicles in the convoy including 20 busses plus other trucks and SUVs. Each bus/truck had 35 to 40 constables. The suicide was mounted to beat the guards along the route. The SUV, which was used by the suicide bomber, was laden with explosives. It rammed the targeted bus. The blast took place on Srinagar-Jammu national Highway. The traffic on this highway was resumed on 13 Feb after 7 days of closure due to heavy snowfall. (PTK)