Eight CRPF personnel killed in IED blast in Awantipora

PULWAMA — At least eight Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel were killed in a blast in Goripora area of Awantipora on the Srinagar-Jammu highway on Thursday, reports said.

NDTV reported that eight CRPF troopers have been killed in the blast and firing that followed it. However, news agency GNS claims that twelve CRPF men were killed in the blast and thirteen others seriously wounded were shifted to Army’s 92 base hospital.

As per some media reports, the number of injured CRPF personnel is stated to be more than forty but fears of more casualties are being expressed.

A police official said that around 3:15 PM, militants rammed the car fitted with explosives into the CRPF bus, triggered off an intensive blast, reported GNS news agency.

Video footage from the area showed people running for cover as smoke billowed from the remains of a CRPF vehicle hit by the blast.

Following the blast the traffic has been suspended on the highway as forces cordoned off the entire area and launched searches.

Meanwhile, Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) has claimed responsibility of the ‘fidayeen’ attack.

A JeM spokesperson Muhammad Hassan in a statement said, “Dozens of forces’ vehicles were destroyed in the attack” as per news agency GNS.

The spokesperson identified the driver (of JeM) who carried out the fidayeen attack as Aadil Ahmad alias Waqas Commando of Gundi Bagh, Pulwama.