KASHMIR’SBLOODIESTDAY INTELLIGENCE ALERTS WARNED OF A POSSIBLE TERROR ATTACK

CRPF ATTACKED 44 feared dead as car with explosives hits convoy; JEM claims hand, govt vows action

SRINAGAR/JAMMU: A suicide bomber driving a car packed with explosives rammed a bus carrying Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) troops, part of a large paramilitary convoy, on the Jammu-srinagar highway on Thursday. Forty-four men were feared killed as the vehicle was reduced to a mangled heap of metal in the deadliest terror attack in three decades of insurgency — one, which many experts said, would evoke a strong response from India.

At least 20 more were injured in the attack in the Awantipora area of Pulwama district. Terror outfit Jaish-e-mohammad, which Indian authorities say is backed by Pakistan, claimed responsibility for the attack that took place in Lethpora, about 30 km from Srinagar. While the police put the official death toll at 33, security officials in Srinagar and New Delhi said at least 44 people had died.

Jaish said the suicide bombing was carried out by a local militant whom it identified as Adil Ahmad Dar of Pulwama.he joined the Jaish in 2018, PTI cited unnamed officials as saying.

The Jaish claimed in a statement that the vehicle was carrying 350 kg of explosives, which Indian authorities did not confirm.

“Attack on CRPF personnel in Pulwama is despicable. I strongly condemn this dastardly attack,” PM Narendra Modi said in a statement as political parties denounced the attack in unison. “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.” NEW DELHI: Senior government officials are concerned about the lack of action on a high-level intelligence alert on the possibility of a Jaish-e-mohammed (JEM) attack between Pulwama and Srinagar. They admit that it will be very difficult for India to not retaliate after Thursday’s attack in Pulwama.

Counter-terrorism operatives suspect the attack was payback for the killing of JEM chief Masood Azhar’s nephew Usman Haider in an encounter in Tral last October. The operatives said the government had been apprised and was concerned about the possibility of car bomb or lone wolf attacks.

According to the officials, who asked not to be identified, recent communication intercepts, coupled with a declaration by Azhar’s brother Rauf Asghar that the terror outfit would “spectacularly” target the Indian forces, and a video of a bus being blown up on the terror group’s website, all indicated a major terrorist attack. This intel was communicated to all security agencies on the eve of the attack, they added. HT couldn’t independently confirm this.

To be sure, analysts say, a suicide bombing that involves a such a large quantity of explosives and a car would also have required a lot of co-ordination and planning – and would have resulted in some chatter.

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