Rajnath vows to avenge attack; CCS to meet on Friday

Experts of the NSG and investigators of the NIA are being sent to Jammu and Kashmir to join the probe into the terror attack.

Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh Thursday assured the people of the country that the terror attack on a Central Reserve Police Force bus in Jammu and Kashmir, carried out by Pakistan-sponsored Jaish-e-Mohammed, will be avenged.

Meanwhile, the Cabinet Committee on Security will meet on Friday morning to discuss the security situation in Jammu and Kashmir against the backdrop of the attack, sources said.

The meeting is likely to take place at 9:15 am on Friday, the sources said.

The Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) is headed by the prime minister, defence minister, home minister, external affairs minister and the finance minister.

In a statement, home minister Rajnath Singh said the central government is determined to foil the designs of those who want to disrupt peace through such a terror attack ‘sponsored and sheltered by Pakistan’.

"Jaish-e-Mohammed has carried out this terror attack. We assure the country that we will undertake whatever it takes to avenge this," he said.

Singh will be visiting Srinagar on Friday to take stock of the situation in the wake of the attack on the convoy that killed at least 39 CRPF personnel.

He will also hold review meetings with senior security and police officials to make ground level assessment and review further operational actions.

Singh has cancelled all his political engagements in Bihar Friday.

He called up Governor Satya Pal Malik, who apprised him about the prevailing situation in the state. Singh also spoke to National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, Union Home Secretary Rajiv Gauba, Director of Intelligence Bureau Rajiv Jain and Director General of CRPF R R Bhatnagar and gave them necessary instructions, a home ministry official said.

In a tweet, Singh said, "Today's dastardly attack on CRPF in Pulwama (J&K) is extremely painful and disturbing. I bow to each and every CRPF jawan who has sacrificed his life in service to the nation. I pray for the speedy recovery of the injured."

The home ministry is also closely monitoring the situation in Jammu and Kashmir, which is currently under the President's rule.

Experts of the anti-terror commando force National Security Guard and investigators of the National Investigation Agency are being sent to Jammu and Kashmir to join the probe into the terror attack.

The decision was taken in view of the high number of casualties in the worst terror strike in the state since the Uri attack in 2016.

An NIA team with forensic experts is being sent to Srinagar to assist Jammu and Kashmir Police in forensic evaluation of the scene of crime, a home ministry official said.

Explosive specialists of the Black Cat commando force NSG will also join in the investigation into the attack, another official said.

Meanwhile, arrangements are also being made to airlift the mortal remains of the soldiers who lost their lives in the ghastly attack.

With ANI inputs