In a befitting reply to the Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) in retaliation to the horrifying Pulwama terrorist attack, The Indian Army killed three terrorists, including the commander of the JeM, in an operation that began late Sunday and lasted 17 hours. Announcing the news, Lt Gen KJS Dhillion, 15 Corps Commander said, “I would like to inform the nation that in less than 100 hours of the Pulwama terrorist attack, we have eliminated the Jaish-e-Mohammad leadership in the Valley which was being handled by the JeM leadership in Pakistan.” Lt Gen Dhillion also said that families in the Valley should convince their children not to pick up weapons. He said, “Anyone who picked up guns in Kashmir will be eliminated, unless they surrender. This is a message to all the mothers of Kashmir.”
Regarding involvement of Pakistan in the attack, Lt Gen Dhillion said the JeM was a “child” of the Pakistani Army and they, as well as the ISI, had a role to play in the February 14 attacks. He said, “There is no doubt that Pakistan Army and the ISI is involved.” He said it was a matter of investigation and details would not be made public as yet. “The type of car bomb attack that took place in Pulwama on February 14 happened after a long time in Kashmir. We will keep all options open to deal with these kinds of attacks. We have leads on the type of explosives used but I can't share the details as an investigation is underway.”
In the encounter that continued till Monday evening, four army personnel, including a Major, were killed. The encounter took place in Pinglena area of Pulwama district. The four Army men have been identified as Major Vibhuti Shankar Dhoundiyal, Hawaldar Sheo Ram, Sepoy Hari Singh and Sepoy Ajay Kumar. Zulfiquar Hasan of the CRPF said a helpline-14411 has been helping Kashmiris across the country in wake of this attack. “A lot of Kashmiri students have approached this helpline for help all over the country. All Kashmiri children studying outside have been taken care of by security forces.”
The Jammu & Kashmir Police released a statement informing three terrorists were killed and one identified as Hilal, a resident of Pinglena. Two terrorists have been identified as Pakistanis. All three killed terrorists were affiliated with JeM and were wanted in a series of terror crimes, including attack on security establishments and civilian atrocities. One of the Pakistani terrorists identified as Kamran had taken over as operational commander of the outfit after Mufti Waqas was killed in an encounter in February last year.
The attack that shocked the world
At least 40 Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) paramilitary troopers were killed in the deadliest terror attack witnessed in three decades of Kashmir's insurgency. The surprise attack by a JeM suicide bomber left the whole world in shock and eventual anger. Last Thursday, Jaish bomber Adil Ahmed Adar, 20, rammed an SUV loaded with 350 kg of explosives into one of the buses, carrying 35-40 troopers, out of a 78-vehicle CRPF convoy. While 40 were killed in the attack, several injured personnel continue to battle for their lives. The Pulwama attack is the deadliest terror attack that has occurred in the Valley in the past three decades of militant activity in Kashmir. Pakistan-based terror outfit Jaish-e-Mohammed claimed responsibility for the attack and released a video of Dar, a resident of Kakapora who joined the group a year ago.
Mastermind behind Pulwama
It is believed Pakistan-based JeM commander Ghazi Abdul Rasheed is the mastermind behind the gruesome Pulwama attack. He is one of the closest aides of JeM chief Maulana Masood Azhar. Agencies believe Ghazi Rasheed is the IED expert who trained Adil Ahmad Dar, the man who executed the suicide strike. Ghazi managed to infiltrate Kashmir along with his two associates around mid-December last year.
He was sent to Kashmir by Masood Azhar to avenge the killings of his two nephews, Talah Rasheed and Usman, in 2017 and 2018 respectively in Pulwama. After Masood Azhar's second nephew Usman, who was a Jaish sniper, got neutralised in an encounter with security forces in Pulwama's Tral area last year, the Pakistan-based terror outfit sent its top commander Ghazi to the Valley. Intelligence sources say Ghazi had a narrow escape in an encounter between militants and security forces in Pulwama's Ratnipora village just days before the attack.
Time for talks over: PM Modi
In reaction to the attack, Prime Minister Narendra Modi who addressed the press after holding delegation-level talks with Argentine President Mauricio Macri, said the world should unite to take concrete action against terrorism and those who support it. He said, “Now, it is required that the world unites against terrorism and those who support it. Hesitation to take action against terrorism and those who support it is akin to encouraging terrorism.”
International diplomatic reaction
Over 45 countries including the US and China reacted to the dastardly attack on CRPF jawans. The United States not only condemned the attack but also attacked Pakistan for harbouring terrorists. It warned the nation to deny safe haven to terrorists or any terror outfits. Russian President Vladamir Putin sent condolences to Prime Minister Modi and his counterpart President Ram Nath Kovind.
France also condemned the attack and extended support to combat terror networks and cut their funding to prevent such cross-border attacks. While China expressed condolences and condemned the act of terror, it still failed to change its stance on Masood Azhaar, who is the founder of Jaish-e-Mohammed. Countries like Australia, Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, Maldives, Bangladesh, European Union, and a host of other countries also joined in condemning the terror attack.
All parties unite to condemn Pak
A resolution adopted at the all-party meeting convened by the NDA government expressed India's determination to fight terrorism following the Pulwama terror attack. The political parties put up a united face and underlined their solidarity with security forces for defending the country's unity and integrity.
The resolution did not name Pakistan but asserted that India has been facing the menace of the cross-border terrorism which of late, it added, is being actively encouraged by forces from the neighbouring country. "India has displayed both firmness and resilience in dealing with these challenges. The entire nation speaks in one voice to express its determination to fight these challenges. Today, we stand united in solidarity with our security forces in fighting terrorism and in defending the unity and integrity of India," it said. The meeting convened by Home Minister Rajnath Singh was attended by Ghulam Nabi Azad, Anand Sharma and Jyotiraditya Scindia of the Congress, Sudip Bandyopadhyay and Derek O'Brien of the TMC, Sanjay Raut of the Shiv Sena, Jithendra Reddy of the TRS, D Raja of the CPI, Farooq Abdullah of the National Conference, Ram Vilas Paswan of the LJP among others.
MEA mandarins brief envoys
The government’s campaign to isolate Pakistan saw the foreign ministry reaching out to more resident envoys and explaining to them how Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Muhammed had carried out the Pulwama attack. The emphasis was on highlighting JeM’s links with Pakistan and how even Pakistan’s ministers have been spotted sharing the same podium with UN-proscribed terrorists like Hafiz Saeed. Foreign secretary Vijay Gokhale and other MEA secretaries briefed Asean ambassadors and also envoys of Gulf Cooperation Council countries. They also met envoys of many countries from Central Asia and Africa. “FS and secretaries strongly rejected the denial by Pakistan of its involvement, highlighting the role of Pakistan in using terrorism as an instrument of its state policy,” said an official source
Customs duty on goods from Pak raised to 200%
Turning the heat on Pakistan after the terror attack, the Centre raised customs duty on all products imported from the neighbouring country to 200%. The move comes a day after India withdrew most-favoured nation status to Pakistan. India had granted MFN status to Pakistan in 1996 but Islamabad has refused to reciprocate. Sources said the decision is being seen as a strong message that India does not wish to have trade links with Pakistan.
J&K withdraws security to 4 separatists
In a crackdown on pro-Pakistan elements, the Jammu and Kashmir government withdrew security and allied government facilities provided to four separatist leaders, including Hurriyat chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and his colleague Abdul Gani Bhat, for the past several years. “In view of the recent terror attack on a CRPF convoy, the government of India has emphasised the need to immediately review the wastage of police resources in providing unnecessary security to a large number of non-government persons in the state. This is particularly relevant in context of security provided to separatists and their sympathisers,” the J&K government said in an order. It added that “as a first step”, the security and allied arrangements provided to Mirwaiz, Bhat, Bilal Lone and Shabir Ahmad Shah were being withdrawn with immediate effect.
'Bharat Ke Veer'
Over 80,000 people have come forward and contributed over £2 million since February 14 to a contribution platform that was exclusively set up for the CRPF personnel killed in the terror attack. A total of £4.6 million has been collected and disbursed under the initiative to the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) troopers who lost their lives in the terror attack. The 'Bharat ke Veer' website and mobile application was launched by Home Minister Rajnath Singh in April 2017. Bollywood actor Akshay Kumar was also involved in the initiative. Technically supported by the National Informatics Centre (NIC) and powered by the State Bank of India, the website and app allow anyone to financially support the bravehearts of their choice or donate to a general corpus.
People can donate a maximum of Rs 15,00,000 to an individual trooper or the next of kin. If the amount exceeds Rs 15,00,000, the rest of the money is diverted towards the account of another trooper or the 'Bharat ke Veer' corpus. The platform is managed by a committee of eminent people of repute and senior government officials who decide to disburse the fund equitably to the families of CRPF personnel on need basis.
SBI waives off outstanding loans for 23 CRPF soldiers
The country's largest lender State Bank of India has initiated slew of measures, including waving off outstanding loans of 23 CRPF soldiers martyred in a terrorist attack in Pulwama district. “The 23 CRPF soldiers had availed of loans from the bank and the bank has decided to waive off all the outstanding loans with immediate effect,” the bank said in a statement. All the CRPF soldiers were the bank's customers under defence salary package where it provides insurance of Rs 30,00,000 to each of the defence personnel.
The bank said it is also taking steps to expedite release of insurance money to the next of kin of the martyred soldiers. “It is extremely distressing and disturbing to witness the loss of lives of the soldiers who always stand for safety of our country. These initiatives by the bank is a small gesture towards the families who have faced irreparable loss,” the bank's chairman Rajnish Kumar said.
DJ Marshmello observes 2-minute silence at Pune gig
World-renowned American music producer and DJ, Marshmello was recently in India for a music festival. He was seen partying in the country with the who's who of Bollywood. At the concert that took place recently in Pune, there were many other musicians that played but DJ Marshmello's set was special because keeping in mind the recent Pulwama attack, he observed a two-minute silence for all the martyred soldiers in the attack. Before starting to play the music, Marshmello said, “Two-minute silence for the India soldiers who lost their lives in a terror attack,” as the Indian flag was shown in the backdrop. People in different states also organised candlelight marches in memory of killed CRPF men. The Indian government expressed satisfaction over Saudi Arabia's condemnation of the Pulwama terror attack. Officials said Pakistan needed to worry about India's growing defence ties with Riyadh.
BOX
List of martyred CRPF Jawans
Punjab
- Head Constable Jaimal Singh
- Constable Sukhjinder Singh
- Constable Kulwinder Singh
- Constable Maninder Singh Attri
Rajasthan
- Constable Rohitash Lamba
- Head Constable Narayan Lal Gurjar
- Head Constable Hemraj Meena
- Constable Bhagirath Singh
- Constable Jeet Ram
Uttar Pradesh
- Constable Mahesh Kumar
- Constable Ramesh Yadav
- Constable Koushal Kumar Rawat
- Constable Pradeep Singh
- Constable Ajit Kumar Azad
- Constable Pradeep Kumar
- Constable Shyam Babu
- Head Constable Awadhesh Kumar Yadav
- Constable Pankaj Kumar Tripathi
- Constable Amit Kumar
- Constable Vijay Kr. Mourya
- Head Constable Ram Vakeel
Maharashtra
- Head Constable Sanjay Rajput
- Constable Rathod Nitin Shivaji
Odisha
- Head Constable PK Sahoo
- Constable Manoja Kumar Behera
Tamil Nadu
- Constable Subramaniam G
- Constable Sivachandran
West Bengal
- Head Constable Bablu Santra
- Constable Sudeep Biswas
Uttarakhand
- Constable Virendra Singh
- Assistant Sub Inspector Mohan Lal
Himachal Pradesh
- Constable Tilak Raj
Jammu and Kashmir
- Head Constable Naseer Ahmad
Jharkhand
- Head Constable Vijay Soreng
Kerala
- Constable Vasantha Kumar VV
Karnataka
- Constable GD Guru H
Madhya Pradesh
- Constable Ashvni Kumar Kaochi
Assam
- Head Constable Maneswar Bsumatari
Bihar
- Constable Ratan Kumar Thakur
- Head Constable Sanjay Kumar Sinha
