A Kashmiri suicide bomber rammed an explosive-laden vehicle into a Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) convoy on Thursday, killing 44 soldiers and injuring a dozen others. This is the deadliest attack seen in 29 years of terrorism that has marred the restive state.
Pakistan based Jaish-e-Mohammed, led by Maulana Masood Azhar, claimed responsibility for the attack, and identified the suicide bomber as 21-year-old Adil Ahmad Dar of Kakapora village, Pulwama district.
This is the second major fidayeen attack after the attack on September 18, 2016, when Pakistani militants stormed a Uri brigade headquarters and killed 19 soldiers.
Thursday's incident took place at 3.15 pm when the 78-vehicle convoy, carrying 2,547 men, was going to Srinagar from Jammu. As it was passing Latoomode at Lethpora, a vehicle fitted with over 250 kg of explosives rammed into a bus. Witness said the impact was so powerful that the blast could be heard within a five km-radius, and vehicle and body parts were thrown 400 meters away.
The area is dotted with shops selling saffron and dry fruits. Panic gripped the area immediately and shopkeepers downed their shutters to escape to the safety of their homes.
"J&K police have taken up the investigation, and the injured have been shifted to hospitals, said Zulfiquar Hassan, Inspector General of CRPF (Operations). Police said one vehicle bore the brunt of the blast, resulting in multiple casualties. "The exact number of casualties is being ascertained, so far 44 fatalities have been confirmed," said a police spokesman.
"What is nature of the explosion, how did it happen, what led to it, these are subjects of investigation," said IGP SP Pani.