‘Good job,’ says Rajnath Singh as security forces neutralise Pulwama attack mastermind Kamran

Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh congratulated the security forces for successfully neutralising Pulwama attack mastermind Kamran in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pinglan in an overnight operations on Monday. “Good job,” Singh said while hailing the encounter. Singh, who visited the Valley day after the attack, paid tributes to the jawans and turned pallbearer at the solemn event. Singh helped carry the coffin of a CRPF jawan before it was flown out of Jammu and Kashmir in a special aircraft, an official present at the function said. "The nation will not forget the supreme sacrifice of our brave CRPF jawans. I have paid my last respects to the martyrs of Pulwama. The sacrifice will not go in vain," Singh had said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday had issued a stern warning to the terrorists and said they have to pay heavy price. Addressing media in New Delhi after the CCS meet, PM Modi said, “Our security forces have been given free hand. The forces behind this act of terrorism and those responsible for it, will be definitely be punished,” he said. “If our neighbour which is totally isolated in the world thinks it can destabilise India through its tactics and conspiracies, then it is making a big mistake,” PM Modi said without naming Pakistan.

“I exhort all to unite and fight against the scourge of terror. Our bravehearts put their lives on the line to achieve two things - security and development. I salute the them. 130 crore Indians will give a fitting reply to such an attack,” PM Modi said at the launch of the Vande Bharat Express.

As condolences poured in from around the globe, PM Modi expressed his gratitude to all world powers. “I am thankful to all nations which condemned Pulwama attack and urge them to come together to crush terrorism,” the Prime Minister said.

Meanwhile, Pakistan issued a midnight statement condemning the attack. However, Islamabad rejected that it was in any way involved in the attack. "We strongly reject any insinuation by elements in the Indian government and media circles that seek to link the attack to the State of Pakistan without investigations," the Foreign Office added.

Forty CRPF personnel were killed and five injured on Thursday in one of the deadliest terror attacks in Jammu and Kashmir when a Jaish-e-Mohammad suicide bomber rammed a vehicle carrying over 100 kg of explosives into their bus in Pulwama district.

(With agency inputs)