Sufi Body Condemns Poonch Terror Attack, Calls It ‘Conspiracy To Defame India’ Ahead Of G20 Meeting

While condemning the Poonch terrorist attack, all India Sufi Sajjadanashin Council chairman Hazrat Syed Naseeruddin Chishti said it is a conspiracy to defame India ahead of G20 meeting in Kashmir.

All India Sufi Sajjadanashin Council chairman Hazrat Syed Naseeruddin Chishti on Saturday condemned the Poonch terrorist attack and said the entire country is with the armed forces. Such attacks are part of a "conspiracy to defame India" because a G20 meeting is scheduled to take place in Kashmir, he said. Five Army personnel were killed and another was seriously injured on Thursday after their vehicle was attacked by unidentified terrorists and caught fire in Jammu and Kashmir's Poonch. The soldiers were from a Rashtriya Rifles unit deployed for counter-terror operations.

Banned outfit People's Anti-Fascist Front (PAFF), a proxy wing of terror group Jaish-e-Mohammed, has claimed responsibility for the attack. There are reports suggesting that it was the handiwork of banned Lashker-e-Taiba group also.

"Till date, all our brave soldiers have sacrificed their lives for the protection of Kashmir and peace in Kashmir. We will not let their martyrdom go in vain, the whole country is standing with the armed forces," Chishti said in a statement.

Today, Kashmir has started on the path of peace and development. The Muslims there are also extending their full cooperation in establishing peace, he said.

Such nefarious terrorist attacks are part of a "conspiracy to defame India" because a G20 programme is scheduled to be held in Kashmir, he added.

India is expected to host over 200 G20 meetings during its yearlong presidency of the influential group. It will host a meeting of the G20 Tourism Working Group in Srinagar in May. Chishti also greeted people on the occasion of Eid-ul-Fitr. 

Poonch Attack

Meanwhile, top Army and police officials on Friday paid homage to five soldiers killed in a terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Poonch district. Five soldiers were killed and one was injured on Thursday after their vehicle was attacked by unidentified terrorists and caught fire.

The soldiers were from a Rashtriya Rifles unit deployed for counter-terror operations. At a ceremony held at a military camp in Rajouri, senior officers, including general officer commanding (GoC) and additional director general of police (ADGP), and civil dignitaries paid homage to the soldiers, officials said.

"The nation will always remain indebted to our bravehearts for their supreme sacrifice and devotion to duty," an officer said.

After the wreath-laying ceremony, mortal remains of Lance Naik Debashish from Algum Sami village in Odisha were airlifted to his native place, the officials said.

The mortal remains of Havildar Mandeep Singh from Chankoian village in Ludhiana, Lance Naik Kulwant Singh from Charik village in Moga, Sepoy Harkrishan Singh from Talwandi village in Gurdaspur and Sepoy Sewak Singh from Bagha village Bathinda, all in Punjab, are being sent to their native places by road, they said. 

(This report has been published as part of the auto-generated syndicate wire feed. Apart from the headline, no editing has been done in the copy by ABP Live.)