Pulwama attack: Andhra CM announces Rs 5 lakh ex-gratia

Amaravati, Feb 16: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Saturday announced ex gratia of Rs 5 lakh to the families of slain Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) jawans.

Around 40 CRPF personnel were killed on Thursday when their convoy was targeted by a suspected suicide bomber of Pakistan-backed Jaish-e-Mohammad in Pulwama district on the Srinagar-Jammu National Highway.

Naidu, while addressing the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) politburo meeting, said, "The terrorist attack in Pulwama district of Jammu and Kashmir is very painful. It is very sad that 40 CRPF jawans lost their lives in the most dastardly attack. The government of Andhra Pradesh will support all the acts of the central government if India in suppressing the terrorism."

Naidu also reiterated that everyone should stand by the families of the deceased at this "critical moment." "It is our primary responsibility to extend moral support to those families. We cannot weigh the lives of those soldiers with some financial aid. However, we cannot ignore extending our support.”

The convoy of 78 buses, in which around 2500 CRPF personnel were travelling from Jammu to Srinagar, came under attack at around 3.15 pm at Ladhu Modi Lethpora. Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) has claimed responsibility for the attack.