Central team to probe 'security lapses' that led to Pampore attack

In a clear reference to Pakistan, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Sunday said the neighbouring country was trying to destabilise India even as he announced that a committee will be sent to Pampore to look into any lapses in the handling of the terror attack that left eight Central Reserve Police Force personnel dead.

Showering praise on security men for successfully eliminating two terrorists involved in Saturday’s attack, he said, “I have asked the Home Secretary to send a two-member committee to Pampore to look into any lapses so that we can correct it in the future and our jawans do not face martyrdom in such incidents.

“I want to praise the bravery of our security men. I salute their courage. Terrorists attacked them (security men) deceitfully. But our security men killed those two terrorists successfully,” he said addressing a function to mark the 300th martyrdom anniversary of legendary Sikh Warrior Baba Banda Singh Bahadur in Fatehgarh Sahib.

The home minister said Indian youth should stand up to face forces which want to destabilise the country.

“An attempt is being made by these terrorists and our neighbouring country to destabilise India. I call upon Indian youth to stand up to face such forces and we should greet and welcome the bravery of our security people and the way they are working with such valour and courage,” said Singh without naming any country.

The home minister said, “India cannot forget those security men who got martyred. They are not with us now and we pay our tributes to them.”

In the deadliest attack on security forces in recent years, eight CRPF personnel were killed and 21 others critically wounded on Saturday when terrorists rained bullets on a bus carrying them at Pampore, in Kashmir.

The minister stressed that the country needed brave and courageous people to face the current challenge.

“But this period is going on and we need brave people in this time like Banda Singh Bahadur who were ready to lay down their lives for the country and society. Such people can protect the nation,” he said.

He noted that people should take inspiration from people like Banda Singh Bahadur. “Today our country is facing many challenges and to win over these challenges, we can take inspiration from life of people like Banda Singh Bahadur,” he said.

Meanwhile in Srinagar, paying tributes to the CRPF jawans killed in the attack, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti said such incidents are only ‘defaming’ Kashmir while keeping potential investors and tourists away from the state.

The CM laid floral wreaths on the coffins of the eight CRPF personnel.

She said targeting security forces personnel who were only doing their duty was ‘condemnable’.

“This is a fasting month when people should be seeking forgiveness and expiation for past sins. This is the time when we should be making sure not to hurt others. This kind of attack where you are affecting families by snatching their bread earner is condemnable.

“Nothing can be achieved by this.... We are only defaming Kashmir and the state by these acts. We also deal a set back to the religion we practice,” Mehbooba told reporters.

She said the terrorists were also giving a set back to tourism of Kashmir.

“People from many countries have started arriving but this would send a wrong signal about the situation here,” she said.

Director General of Police K Rajendra Kumar downplayed suggestions that the CRPF casualties could have been avoided in view of prior intelligence inputs and said the attackers were neutralised due to alertness of the jawans and intelligence inputs.

“It is a desperate act by the terrorists. You must have seen over the past few days the attacks at Anantnag, Bijbehara or Pampore, these are desperate acts. Over the past six months, many terrorists and their leadership have been eliminated,” he said.

“The CRPF personnel were returning after doing their duty and in such cases they become sitting ducks. In earlier attacks, the militants managed to escape but yesterday, our jawans were alert, there were intelligence reports which led to neutralising of terrorists. They could not escape,” Kumar said.

Asked if there was any militant involved in Saturday’s attack on the loose, the DGP said, “We are investigating the case. We are looking at all possible angles and links and we will get them, we will get the perpetrators to the book.”

On the forthcoming Amarnath Yatra which begins on July 2, Kumar said, “We will take all steps necessary for safe and secure environment for smooth conduct of the yatra.”

On infiltration of militants from across the Line of Control, the DGP said while ‘some infiltration has taken place, JK police and security forces are all prepared and geared up to handle any sort of situation’.