Home Ministry sets up a three-member team to visit Kashmir in the wake of Pampore attack

Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh accused the neighbouring country of trying to destabilise India. In the wake of yesterday's terror attack on CRPF convoy in Jammu and Kashmir, he called upon the youth to stand up to face such forces. 

Mr Singh praised the bravery of security men saying terrorists attacked them deceitfully but they killed those two terrorists successfully. The Home Minister was addressing a function in Fatehgarh Sahib in Punjab to mark the 300th martyrdom anniversary of legendary Sikh Warrior Baba Banda Singh Bahadur. A three-member team of Home Ministry officials will visitJammu and Kashmir on Tuesday to find out if there were any lapses involved in the attack in Pampore in which eight CRPF personnel were killed and 21 injured. The team will look into the possible increase of cross border Infiltration and practices being followed during the movement of paramilitary forces



convoy in Jammu and Kashmir. 

Meanwhile, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti, while condemning the incident and paying tributes to the deceased CRPF personnel, said the people of the state were the worst sufferers of such attacks as these deprive them of development and employment. Observing that such attacks defame the state, she highlighted that the strike had been carried out during Ramzan, the holy month when people should be seeking forgiveness and expiation for past sins and making sure not to hurt others. 

In an apparent reference to Pakistan, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar said India seeks peace but from the position of strength and not from the position of weakness. He said the attack is a fallout of frustration as he cited the records of last one month during which 25-30 terrorists have been gunned down after their infiltration from Pakistani side.