Rajnath to visit J&K amid revenge talks

Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh to fly to Jammu and Kashmir on Friday morning to take stock of security scenario in the state where terrorists struck a CRPF convoy amid talks of “revenge” by ministers.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to Singh, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and other top officials on the Pulwama attack while the Home Minister rushed back to Delhi from Lucknow.

Singh, who cancelled his Friday's engagements in Bihar's Patna, spoke to Jammu and Kashmir Governor Satyapal Malik and CRPF Director General Rajiv Rai Bhatnagar, who also rushed back from Prayagraj to the capital. Home Secretary Rajiv Gauba, who is in Bhutan, will also be flying back to Delhi.

The Cabinet Committee on Security is also likely to meet on Friday morning to take stock of the situation.

Teams of National Investigation Agency (NIA) and National Security Guards (NSG) will also reach Srinagar on Friday morning. The security establishment took the decision to send both the NIA and NSG squads in view of the high number of casualties in the terror strike since the Uri attack in 2016.

The NIA team will consist of forensic experts and they assist Jammu and Kashmir Police in forensic evaluation of the scene of the crime. Explosive specialists of the NSG will also join in the investigation into the attack.

Modi described the "dastardly" attack on CRPF personnel as "despicable" and said the "sacrifices of our brave security personnel shall not go in vain".

"The entire nation stands shoulder to shoulder with the families of the brave martyrs. May the injured recover quickly. Spoke to Home Minister Rajnath Singh and other top officials regarding the situation in the wake of the attack in Pulwama," the Prime Minister said.

Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju said, the "cowardly terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir will not go unpunished, we will avenge."

Another Minister of State for Home Hansraj Ahir said, "our soldiers are fighting bravely with the terrorists. We are not going to forget their sacrifice, we will take revenge of this."

The Home Minister said today's "dastardly attack was extremely painful and disturbing" that he "bow to each and every CRPF jawan who has sacrificed his life" in service to the nation.

Minister of State for PMO Jitendra Singh tweeted, "Dastardly attack on CRPF personnel is a desperate act by terrorists on the run. While the entire nation stands with the Indian security forces, will this also be an eye-opener for Kashmir-centric politicians who are always apologetic on such occasions."