Live: PM Modi pays tribute to martyred CRPF heroes; mortal remains leave for native places

India on Friday withdrew the status of the Most Favoured Nation to Pakistan following the Awantipora attack in Jammu and Kashmir that killed at least 40 CRPF personnel. The CRPF has confirmed that a total of 40 CRPF personnel are confirmed dead. Of the total bodies, 36 bodies have been identified whereas four remain unidentified as of now. 

Following the high-level meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India decided to mull tough action against Pakistan and will prepare a dossier on the suicide attack.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi warned saying, "The forces behind this act of terrorism and those responsible for it, will be definitely be punished."

The meeting was held to discuss the security situation in Jammu and Kashmir after one of the deadliest terror attacks in the state killed at least 40 personnel and critically wounded many. A suicide bomber from the Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) terror group rammed an explosives-laden vehicle into a CRPF bus in Pulwama district on Thursday afternoon.

The Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) on Friday was headed by PM Modi and Defence Minister, Home Minister, External Affairs Minister and Finance Minister are its members.

More than 2,500 Central Reserve Police Force personnel, many of them returning from leave to rejoin duty in the Valley, were travelling in the convoy of 78 vehicles when they were ambushed on the Srinagar-Jammu highway at Latoomode in Awantipora in south Kashmir around 3.15 pm. The Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) terror group has claimed responsibility for the attack that took place about 20 km from Srinagar, officials said.

Police identified the suicide bomber as Adil Ahmed, who officials said joined the Jaish in 2018. He was driving a vehicle packed with over 100 kg of explosives on the wrong side of the road and hit the bus, in which estimated 39-44 personnel were travelling, head-on, an official at the spot said.

The powerful explosion, which reduced the bus to a mangled heap of iron, was heard many kilometres away, including in some parts of Srinagar adjoining Pulwama district. Body parts could be seen strewn around the area. 

Here are the live updates:

15 February 2019

21:51 IST

Mortal remains of martyred CRPF bravehearts depart for their native places.

20:40 IST

PM Modi pays homage to the fallen CRPF bravehearts.