Kashmir terror attack: 20 CRPF jawans die; PM Modi condemns

Several others were injured in the attack.

Militant outfit Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) has claimed responsibility for the blast.

Official sources said militants triggered the blast when a vehicle, carrying the CRPF personnel, was passing the Srinagar-Jammu National Highway at Goripora, Awantipora.

The injured were immediately rushed to Army’s 92 base hospital.

Security forces have been rushed to the spot and the area has been cordoned off.

Prime Minister condemns:

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who was in Uttarakhand on Thursday, tweeted, "Attack on CRPF personnel in Pulwama is despicable. I strongly condemn this dastardly attack. 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."

The Prime Minister informed he spoke to Home Minister Rajnath Singh over the attack.

Modi tweeted, " Spoke to Home Minister Rajnath Singh Ji and other top officials regarding the situation in the wake of the attack in Pulwama."

Home Ministry monitoring situation:

The Office of Home Minister Rajnath Singh tweeted, "Today’s dastardly attack on crpf in Pulwama (J&K) is extremely painful and disturbing. I bow to each and every CRPF jawan who has sacrificed his life in service to the nation. I pray for the speedy recovery of the injured."

Singh has also cancelled his scheduled visit to Bihar on Friday.

The HMO tweeted, "HM also spoke to the Governor of Jammu and Kashmir, DG CRPF and the Home Secretary regarding the Pulwama attack. They have apprised him of the situation. HM has cancelled his scheduled visit to Bihar tomorrow. MHA is closely monitoring the situation."

Other condemnations:

Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister, Mehbooba Mufti, 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?"

Other ex-Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir, Omar Abdullah, said in a tweet, "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."

Congress president Rahul Gandhi tweeted, "I’m deeply disturbed by the cowardly attack on a #CRPF convoy in J&K in which many of our brave CRPF men have been martyred and a large number wounded, some critically. My condolences to the families of our martyrs. I pray for the speedy recovery of the injured."

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee tweeted, "Saddened that 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."

"More news coming in that the death toll of CRPF jawans at Pulwama has now risen. We condemn this violence. Thoughts and prayers with the grieving families of our brave martyrs," she added.

Image credit: IBNS