JeM claims responsibility for massacre of 40 CRPF jawans in Pulwama, J&K

Srinagar: At least 40 Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel were killed and many injured after terrorists targeted a convoy with an explosive at Awantipora in Jammu and Kashmir's Pulwama district on Thursday.

The bus which came under the main impact of the blast belonged to 76 battalion of the CRPF.

Terrorist group Jaish-e-Mohammed has reportedly claimed responsibility for the attack. Police identified the terrorist as Adil Ahmad from Kakapora in Pulwama.

“There were 70 vehicles in the convoy and one of the vehicles came under attack. The convoy was on its way from Jammu to Srinagar,” said CRPF (Operations) Inspector General Zulfiqar Hassan adding that the Jammu and Kashmir police have taken over the investigation into the terror attack.

“There were about 2500 personnel in the convoy,” news agency ANI quoted CRPF Director General RR Bhatnagar as saying on Pulwama attack.

According to ANI, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh spoke to CRPF’s Bhatnagar over Pulwama attack to take stock of the situation. Singh, who also spoke to Jammu and Kashmir Governor Satyapal Malik, will be visiting Srinagar on Friday.

"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," former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah tweeted soon after the incident.

The incident took place at Lethpora, about 30 km from Srinagar on the Jammu-Srinagar highway around 3.15 pm. Jammu and Kashmir police spokesperson has confirmed that it was an improvised explosive device (IED) blast.The explosion was followed by gunshots aimed at the security forces in Pulwama district of the state.

The Jammu-Srinagar highway incident is the deadliest terror attack on the security forces in the state since militants targeted Uri army camp in September 2016, when 19 soldiers were killed.