J&K attack on CRPF men an act of frustration: Parrikar

Bhubaneswar, June 26: Condemning the terrorist attack on a CRPF bus near Pampore in Jammu and Kashmir a day earlier, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar on Sunday said it is an act of frustration and assured the government will deal with such incidents strongly.

“In the last one month, over 25 terrorists have been killed by security personnel in Jammu and Kashmir. It is an act of frustration on their part to show that they still hold power,” the minister said while addressing an ex-servicemen’s convention here. Calling it a very unfortute incident, Parrikar said he had doubts if the standard operating procedure (SOP) was followed in the case. He, however, said the exact reason of the incident will only come out after inquiry.

“This tion has to seek peace. We seek peace, but from a position of strength and not from a position of weakness,” he added. Parrikar said that after becoming the Defence Minister, he had told soldiers to retaliate in case of a terrorist attack.

“... I told jawans that if terrorists attack you, you don’t need to stop; you have all the freedom to retaliate,” the minister said.

Eight Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel were killed and 22 others wounded when terrorists attacked a bus carrying security personnel in Jammu and Kashmir on Saturday. Addressing a press conference later, he welcomed the changes in the Foreign Direct Investment policy in the defence sector.

“The government has taken a big step in the defence sector by increasing the FDI. This has been done so that India becomes an ‘export hub’ over the years,” the minister said. He said the capacity of the Hindustan Aeroutics Limited’s MiG factory in Odisha’s Subeda will be doubled within two to four years.

Parrikar also highlighted several central welfare programmes initiated for the benefit of the people. (IANS)