Twelve CRPF men killed in Awantipora IED blast: Home Ministry

PULWAMA — Twelve Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel have died in the blast in Goripora area of Awantipora on the Srinagar-Jammu highway on Thursday, a statement from Home Ministry said.

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.

Earlier, a police official said that around 3:15 PM, militants rammed the car fitted with explosives into the CRPF bus, triggering off an intensive blast.

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

It is pertinent to mention that Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) has claimed responsibility of the ‘fidayeen’ attack and identified the driver (of JeM) who carried out the fidayeen attack as Aadil Ahmad alias Waqas Commando of Gundi Bagh, Pulwama.