On Thursday afternoon, at around 3.15 p.m militants targeted the CRPF convoy near Lethpora Awantipora on the Srinagar-Jammu national highway. While CRPF initially said that it was an Improvised Explosive Device (IED), police sources said it was a suicide bomber who rammed his car into the bus of 54 Battalion of CRPF.
In a telephonic call to a local news agency, Jaish said that a fidayeen militants of the outfit was driving the explosive-laden car. Jaish has identified the suicide bomber at Adil Ahmad, a resident of Gundi bagh in Pulwama.
According to PTI, Pakistan today summoned the Indian Deputy High Commissioner and lodged a protest against India's allegation of its role in the brutal Pulwama terrorist attack. Though the Foreign Office has not issued any statement, sources said the FO summoned the Indian Deputy High Commissioner and rejected "baseless allegations made by India" against Pakistan on the Pulwama attack. A short video clip of the Indian diplomat leaving the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is also circulating in the social media.
PM Modi has arrived at the venue to pay his tribute to the slain soldiers.
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The bodies of the slain jawans will be flown to New Delhi where PM Modi will pay them homage.
A day before the attack on a CRPF convoy at Awantipora, Pulwama in which at least 40 jawans of the paramilitary force were killed — there was an almost identical attack in Iran’s Sistan-Balochistan province, which borders Pakistan. While there are no apparent connections between the two, there is no denying that the two groups — Jaish ul Adl and Jaish-e-Mohammed – that have each claimed responsibility for the respective attack are ideologically linked. Both have been mentored in Pakistan and both are based in Pakistan. Much like India has been asking Pakistan to shut down Jaish-e-Mohammed, Iran accuses Pakistan of sheltering the JuA and has repeatedly asked Islamabad to crack down against it. Read full piece here.
The minister added, "Some elements are being funded by Pakistan and ISI. We won't tolerate terror. We will eliminate terror. People of Jammu and Kashmir are with us in our fight against terror."
Addressing the media, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh said, "We stand with the families of the jawans. We salute the bravery of our martyrs. We will succeed in fighting terrorism. We have requested the state governments to help the families of the deceased."
Countries from across the globe, including the US, Russia, Australia, France, Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, have condemned the brutal Pulwama terror attack carried out by Pakistan-based JeM. Ibrahim Mohamad Solih, President of Maldives was among the first to deplore the attack saying, In a strongly-worded statement, the United States said the attack only strengthens the resolve to bolster counterterrorism cooperation and coordination between the United States and India. The US also called on Pakistan “to end immediately the support and safe haven provided to all terrorist groups operating on its soil, whose only goal is to sow chaos, violence, and terror in the region.” Read full story here.
K Unnikrishnan, the father of 26/11 hero Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan, said India needs to take concrete action to curb terror attacks, instead of hollow discussions and "political surgical strikes". Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan had attained martyrdom fighting terrorists on the third day of the Mumbai terror attacks. "What India needs is concrete action (to check terror attacks) and not hollow discussions and political surgical strikes," Unnikrishnan told PTI. He, however, said India should restrain from provoking the enemy if it cannot take precautionary measures or a total offensive approach.
The Madhya Pradesh government announced financial help of Rs one crore to the family of the CRPF jawan from the state killed in the terror attack. The martyr Ashwini Kumar Kachhi hailed from Khudawal village in Jabalpur district. The state government also announced a government job and a house to the jawan's kin. Chief Minister Kamal Nath said he salutes Ashwini Kumar Kachhi, the "brave son of Madhya Pradesh's Jabalpur district". "We are with the family members of the martyr in grief," he tweeted.
Karnataka Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy consoled the family of brave heart from Mandya, H Guru, who was killed in the incident. The chief minister instructed officials to speed up the process of compensation and directed them to verify the educational qualifications of Guru's wife so that she can be provided with a job by the government. "I spoke to martyred #CRPF soldier H Guru's family over the phone and consoled them. Their grief is heart-wrenching. We are with them. I have instructed officials to speed up the process of compensation. #Pulwama," Kumaraswamy tweeted.
Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlot and former chief minister Vasundhara Raje Friday also condemned the Pulwama terror attack. Offering his condolences, Gehlot prayed for the departed souls and strength to the bereaved families, an official said. The veteran Congress leader also wished early recovery to those injured. Vasundhara Raje, on the other hand, in a tweet said: "Your martyrdom has filled tears in everyone's eyes but your bravery, valour and sacrifice has made every Indian proud."
Telangana Chief Minister and TRS leader K Chandrashekhar Rao also condemned the attack on the CRPF jawans. In a statement, Rao said he was moved by the loss of lives and by those injured in the ghastly incident. The CM conveyed his condolences to the bereaved families and wished speedy recovery of the injured. He said the entire nation was in a state of mourning in this hour of grief and appealed to his party cadre not to celebrate his birthday falling on February 17.
Jharkhand Chief Minister Raghubar Das also announced an ex-gratia of Rs 10 lakh for the family of a CRPF jawan from the state, who was among the 40 personnel killed in the attack yesterday. According to an official statement released by the state, the CM also promised a government job to a member of CRPF jawan Vijay Soreng's family. Condemning the attack, Das asserted that the country will continue its fight against terrorism. "Pakistan has been fighting a proxy terror war for over 50 years now. India has taken a pledge to fight till we win Our army is ready to face any situation" the statement said quoting the CM.
CRPF jawans fix black flags on a vehicle to carry the bodies of the slain jawans lifted from Kashmir at Palam airport in New Delhi on Friday. (Express photo/Praveen Khanna)
The wreath laying ceremony at Budgam on Thursday. (Express photo/Shuaib Masoodi)
According to ANI, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami has announced a solatium of Rs 20 lakh each to the families of the two CRPF personnel from the state who lost their lives in the attack yesterday.
According to sources, Gokhale asked Mahmood to initiate immediate action against JeM and said Pakistan must stop the activities of groups or individuals promoting terrorism in its soil.
Pakistan High Commissioner to India Sohail Mahmood was summoned at MEA over Pulwama attack.
"These are times when we all must come together and strengthen our resolve to make India stronger and safer. I appeal to the political class- let us rise above politics and show that we are together when it comes to matters of national security. Nothing matters above India!" Amit Shah tweeted.
"130 crore Indians stand in complete solidarity with the families of the courageous heroes who devoted their life in service of the nation. Generations to come will remember their valour. We pray the injured get well soon," the BJP chief said in another tweet.
Nearly a dozen people were injured and over half a dozen vehicles torched in Gujjar Nagar area of Jammu City as violence broke out during Jammu bandh on Friday morning.
The bandh was called by Jammu Chamber of Commerce and Industry and it was touted by various political, social and religious organisations to protest the killing of at least 40 CRPF men in a militant attack in Kashmir’s Anantnag district. READ MORE
Nearly a dozen people were injured and over half a dozen vehicles torched in Gujjar Nagar area of Jammu City as violence broke out during Jammu bandh on Friday morning.
The Uttar Pradesh government Friday announced an ex-gratia of Rs. 25 lakhs each to the families of the CRPF jawans of the state killed in the terror attack in Pulwama, news agency PTI reported.
12 jawans belonging to the state were killed in the Pulwama attack on Thursday.
Locals in Kathua protest against Pakistan
"We will not forget, We will not forgive-We salute our martyrs of Pulwama attack and stand with the families of our martyr brothers. This heinous attack will be avenged"
Rajnath Singh accompanied by Home Secretary Rajiv Gauba, leaves for Srinagar.
In the wake of Pulwama attack, security has been tightened at the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi.
A total of 40 personnel have been killed in the Pulwama attack, IG CRPF Zulfikar Hassan confirmed.
Today is a day of mourning. Our country has lost close to 40 jawans and our foremost duty is to convey to the families of those who have lost their lives and those seriously injured that we are with them in condemning this act of terrorism, Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said.
We will not compromise with terrorists and whatever the country requires, we will act as one nation, he said.
Our role today is to convey to soldiers and families our sympathies. The Congress party stands with them and we will do all that is necessary to keep this country united, Singh added.
"This is a terrible tragedy. This type of violence done against our soldiers is absolutely disgusting. We are all standing together with our jawans."
"This is a time of mourning, sadness, and respect," Gandhi said.
"Aim of terrorism is to divide this country. We won't be divided even for a second. Opposition stands with our jawans and with our government," Congress President Rahul Gandhi said.
Pakistan will have to act against JeM, which claimed responsibility, Husain Haqqani tweeted.
The death toll in the Pulwama attack has reached 38.
The deceased include 12 CRPF jawans from Uttar Pradesh, 5 from Rajasthan, 4 from Punjab and 1 from Karnataka and Kerala respectively.
"If our neighbour which is totally isolated in the world thinks it can destabilise India through its tactics and conspiracies, then it is making a big mistake," PM Modi on Pulwama attack.
We will not leave the dreams of those who died for us, PM Modi said.
Pulwama attack | Several countries have condemned this attack and have promised to stand by India. We all will have to fight against this terror together. When every country will start acting against it, terror will not sustain for long, PM Modi said.
Pulwama attack: Those who did this should realise that threat dream of dividing this country has to be dropped. We will not let those who wish to demolish our economically feel succeeded, PM Modi said.
Pulwama attack: I pay tribute to soldiers who lost their lives in PulwamaAttack. Our security forces have been given full freedom. We have full faith in their bravery, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said.
"MEA will initiate all possible diplomatic steps which are to be taken to ensure the complete isolation from the international community of Pakistan of which incontrovertible is available of having a direct hand in this act," Arun Jaitley said.
Briefing the media after the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) meeting, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said, "CCS expressed its condolences to families, a detailed assessment of the incident was also taken."
He also said that the Most Favoured Nations status (MFN) to Pakistan stands withdrawn.
Top security officials are learnt to have made a presentation on the incident and the overall security situation in the state, news agency PTI reported. Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired the meet. Home Minister Rajnath Singh, Union Minister Arun Jaitley, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj are also present at the meeting.
What happened on the Jammu-Srinagar highway yesterday
"Please accept the most sincere condolences. We strongly condemn this brutal crime. The perpetrators & sponsors of this attack, undoubtedly, should be duly punished"
Kashmir Pulwama attack: Indian Air Force C-17 to go to J&K's Srinagar from Hindon to get the mortal remains of CRPF jawans killed.
The White House asked Pakistan to immediately end “support” and “safe haven” to all terror groups as it strongly condemned the Pulwama terrorist attack. READ MORE
A meeting of the PM Modi-led Cabinet Committee on Security is currently underway to take a call on the next course of action and look at options.
Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, Home Minister Rajnath Singh, NSA Ajit Doval & Finance Minister Arun Jaitley have arrived at 7, LKM for the meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Security.
All political programmes of BJP leaders, including PM Modi and party chief Amit Shah, for Friday cancelled in wake of Pulwama Terror attack, news agency PTI reports citing BJP sources.
J&K Governor Satya Pal Malik said that he would be leaving for the wreath laying ceremony of the martyrs in Kashmir. "Home Minister Rajnath Singh is also coming. We will hold a review meeting with top security and intelligence officials," he said.
"We will find out where the lapses occurred," he added.