What turned out to be tragic on February 14 is the attack on a Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) convoy which killed 42 CRPF men and wounded several others in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pulwama district.
The attack, believed to be one of the “deadliest” attacks in the Kashmir valley, took place around 3.15 pm when an SUV packed with high explosives rammed into the CRPF bus, carrying 39 troopers, triggered a deafening explosion.
The Pakistan-based Azhar Masood’s Jaish-e-Mohammad claimed responsibility for the attack and released a video clip of the suicide bomber who was identified as Adil Ahmed Dar, 20-year old 11th dropout, also known as Adil Ahmed Gaadi Takranewala, who joined Jaish last year and hails from Kakapora.
“My name is Adil, I joined the Jaish-e-Mohammad a year ago. After a year’s wait, I have got the chance to do what I joined the Jaish for… By the time this video reaches you, I will be in heaven… this is my last message for the people of Kashmir,” Adil Ahmad says in a video that was released by the terror organisation.
All the injured were rushed to the Army’s 92 Base Hospital in the Badamibagh cantonment (BB cant) of Srinagar city, 30km away from the site of the incident.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi led the nation in condemning the attack. “The attack … 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,” he tweeted.
Union Minister Arun Jaitley condemned the attack and said terrorists will be given “unforgettable lesson for their heinous act.”
Usually, about 1,000 personnel are part of a convoy but this time it was a total of 2,547 personnel, traveling in 78 vehicles.
Photo: Umar GanieA team of National Investigation Agency (NIA) and National Security Gaurd (NSA) will leave for Kashmir on Friday to assist in the matter.
As the news of the attack surfaced, political leaders across the spectrum spoke out in condemnation to condole the death of security personnel.
Congress President Rahul Gandhi said he was deeply disturbed by the cowardly attack on the convoy, “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,” he tweeted.
The attack on the security establishment indicates a significant tactical shift in the strategy of terrorists as security agencies fear that vehicle-ramming assaults, last seen in the 2001 Jammu and Kashmir Assembly car bombing, could become a new norm.
Moreover, many countries condoled the “heinous” attack in Jammu and Kashmir. However, Pakistan and China maintained a deafening silence over the attack, pushing the bilateral relations and peace talks to a new low.
Image Source: ANI Twitter.