Pulwama: Security arrangement of CRPF convoy, possible loopholes and how the attack took place

The Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) claimed responsibility for the horror and released a video clip of the suicide bomber, a 'commander' identified as Adil Ahmad Dar, which it claimed was shot before the young man carried out the strike in Lethpora, about 30 km from Srinagar.

Image: ANI

SRINAGAR: In one of the worst terror attacks in Jammu and Kashmir since militancy erupted in 1989, a suicide bomber on Thursday rammed his SUV packed with explosives into a CRPF bus on the Srinagar-Jammu highway in Pulwama district, killing at least 39 troopers and leaving the security established stunned. The Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) claimed responsibility for the horror and released a video clip of the suicide bomber, a 'commander' identified as Adil Ahmad Dar, which it claimed was shot before the young man carried out the strike in Lethpora, about 30 km from Srinagar. Measures taken for safety of convoy Whenever a large convoy passes through, security forces are deployed from 8:00 am till 8:00pm on the route. During any major movement of the security forces, their convoy is led by at least 4-5 armoured counter-terror vehicles and to prevent getting ambushed by militants from sides, security personnel walk with the contingent. Also, forces are positioned at every 500-meter to keep guard and road opening parties get deployed. Where's loophole? Generally, authorities don't halt the movement of public and private transport during the Army convoy movement, so that the common people are not stranded on the streets in their vehicles, waiting for the forces to pass. The terrorist(s) would have taken advantage of the same and carried out such an attack. Aftermath of the attack The explosive used in the attack was so strong that the blast was heard from 10-12 km away, including some parts of Srinagar adjoining the Pulwama district. Body parts of the terrorist, identified as Adil Ahmad, and the CRPF personnel killed in the attack were strewn on the Jammu-Srinagar Highway, where the incident happened. Some of the bodies were so badly blown up that officials feel it may take some time to identity them. First suicide car bomb attack since 2001 This was the first suicide car bomb strike in Kashmir since the 2001 attack on the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly that left 41 persons, including three suicide attackers, dead. More than 2,500 Central Reserve Police Force personnel, many of them returning from leave to rejoin duty in the Valley, were travelling in the convoy of 78 vehicles when the suicide bomber rammed his vehicle into a bus carrying 39-44 jawans. There was nothing at the scene of the incident to suggest which type of vehicle was used to carry out the attack except the mangled heap of iron of the bus that was the target.