At least 40 CRPF jawans were killed and dozens injured in an improvised explosive device (IED) blast in Awantipora, Pulwama district in Jammu and Kashmir. This is the worst attack on India's armed forces since the Uri airbase attack in 2016.

Banned terrorist organisation, allegedly backed by Pakistan, Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) has claimed responsibility.

Media reports suggest JeM spokesperson Muhammad Hassan, in a text message to Kashmiri News agency GNS, has claimed that a local fidayeen terrorist Aadil Ahmed executed the attack.

Zulfiqar Hassan, IG CRPF (Operations), told mediapersons that the J&K police has taken up the investigation. "The injured have been shifted to hospital. Post-blast analysis is being done on the spot," he added.

National politicians including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu, Congress President Rahul Gandhi, BJP chief Amit Shah have condemned the incident.

Regional leaders and former chief ministers of Jammu and Kashmir Mehbooba Mufti and Omar Abdullah have also expressed their condolences to the kin of the martyrs.