Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday condemned in strong words the “dastardly attack” on a convoy of Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) in Jammu-Kashmir’s Pulwama and said that the sacrifices of the personnel will not go in vain.
“Attack on CRPF personnel in Pulwama is despicable. I strongly condemn this dastardly attack,” he wrote on Twitter.
“The sacrifices of our brave security personnel shall not go in vain. The entire nation stands shoulder to shoulder with the families of the brave martyrs. May the injured recover quickly,” he said.
The PM added that he spoke to Home Minister Rajnath Singh and took stock of the situation on the ground.
“Spoke to Home Minister Rajnath Singh Ji and other top officials regarding the situation in the wake of the attack in Pulwama,” he tweeted.
At least 30 CRPF jawans were killed and over 45 seriously injured in a suicide attack when an explosive-laden car rammed into a bus in which they were travelling near Letapora of Pulwama in South Kashmir.
This is the highest casualty suffered by security forces in the last 10 years in Jammu-Kashmir and the second-highest involving CRPF personnel since the 2010 Maoist attack in Dantewada, Chhattisgarh.
Reports say that gunshots were heard from the area following the high-intensity blast.
CRPF DG RR Bhatnagar said that the convoy, carrying the personnel, was travelling from Jammu to Srinagar when the attack occurred.
Terrorists continued to fire at the convoy even after the bus was completely charred. The convoy consisted of 70 vehicles carrying about 2500 soldiers. Two CRPF vehicles were damaged in the attack.
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The attack has reportedly happened on a heavily guarded highway.
Home Minister Rajnath Singh, who has already spoken to J-K Governor Satyapal Malik and DG CRPF RR Bhatnagar, will visit Srinagar tomorrow.
Hansraj Ahir MoS Home said, “The IED blast that took place in Pulwama has martyred many of our CRPF jawans. The martyrdom of the jawans is unfortunate and we take it as a challenge. Befitting reply will be given.”
National Security Advisor Ajit Doval is monitoring the situation in Kashmir.