A new kind of threat: CRPF DG on Pulwama attack

NEW DELHI: A day after 40 personnel of CRPF were killed in a car bombing in Pulwama, CRPF director general Rajeev Bhatnagar said that they have been “hit by a new kind of threat” despite taking every precaution but this has made their resolve “stronger” to carry out counter-terror operations till the terrorism is eliminated from the valley.

Bhatnagar, who was in Srinagar on Friday to pay tributes to the martyrs and discuss further strategy with his subordinates, J&K police, Army and intelligence agencies, also hinted that the operations against terrorists “might intensify in coming days”.

The force has already vowed to 'avenge' the killing of its men by Jaish-e-Mohammad. In a tweet on Friday, CRPF said “we will not forget, we will not forgive”. It added, “We salute our martyrs of Pulwama attack and stand with the families of our martyr brothers. This heinous attack will be avenged”.



Interacting exclusively with TOI over phone from Srinagar, Bhatnagar said, “It’s a big loss to the CRPF. But this force has a history of valor and keeping up with the professionalism we have shown for ages, without forgetting the sacrifices, we are concentrating on our task”.

Asked about what went wrong on Thursday, Bhatnagar reiterated that “all the arrangements/precautions were taken to avert an attack, SoPs (standard operating procedures) were followed but we were hit by a new kind of threat”.

He added “CRPF has had very noticeable achievements in Kashmir including eliminating several terrorists. In fact, there was not a single attack on our convoys in last one year”.

The CRPF, following the deadliest attack in Kashmir’s history, is now working on a new strategy in consultation with other agencies, which includes stopping the civilian vehicles when the convoys are on the move. TOI had reported first on Friday that CRPF had taken all steps following intelligence inputs to secure the convoy – which had 2,547 personnel, but liberty given to civilians to travel on highways during troops movement was used by JeM terrorist Aadil, who entered from the slip road to the highway before ramming the SUV in the CRPF bus.

The new strategy is also likely to include reorganizing the quick reaction teams (QRTs), checkpoints at every few kms on the convoy route and keeping civilians several meters away irrespective of the inconvenience caused to them, sources said.

Home minister Rajnath Singh also said on Friday that civilian traffic during convoy movements will be stopped from now on.

A preliminary analysis has revealed that a “very high intensity” explosive, most likely RDX, was used in the car bomb but there weren’t any sharpnels in it. The experts, however, ruled out the quantity of explosive to be 350 kgs, as assumed earlier, saying it could be around 80 to 100 kg.

Meanwhile, CRPF has asked all its formations in J&K to be on high alert and fully prepared.