Govt probing security lapses that could have led to Pampore CRPF losses

The Union government has begun an inquiry into the ambush on Saturday of a CRPF convoy by two terrorists in Pampore, Kashmir. Eight CRPF personnel were killed in machine gun fire and 22 were injured.

"I think the standard operating procedure wasn't followed properly," said defence minister Manohar Parrikar.

According to government sources, the bus with 40 CRPF personnel travelled without escorts even though there had been specific intelligence inputs about a possible attack in the area. In addition, the road opening party, which specifically seeks out possible attackers on highways in the state, failed to detect the attackers in their car, says NDTV.

Home minister Rajnath Singh said: "I have asked the home secretary to send two-member committee to Pampore to report if there were any lapses, so we correct them and our soldiers don't have to lose their lives in future."