PM squarely blames Pakistan for Kashmir terrorist attacks

Prime Minister Narendra Modi today minced no words in blaming Pakistan for the terror attacks in Kashmir on Friday that left at least 21 persons dead, including nine Indian armed personnel, three policemen, and six extremists.

Addressing an election meeting in Srinagar, he lauded the Army personnel who made the ''supreme sacrifice'' of their lives to protect the country's security and saud the nation would never forget them.

"Pakistan made a shameful attempt to attack the democracy of India. But the brave jawans sacrificed their lives protecting the country's security," he said.

"I pay my tributes to Jharkhand's brave son Sankalp Kumar Shukla (an officer) and other brave jawans. Sankalp Kumar Shukla's martyrdom will be remembered by future generations in the state," he said.

Lt Col Sankalp Kumar of the Punjab Regiment was among the eight army men and three policemen killed in Mohra army camp in Uri sector by a group of six militants, believed to have come from across the border (See; Eight Armymen, 3 cops killed in Kashmir suicide attack).

The attacks came just three days after a 72-per cent voter turnout was registered in the second phase of incident-free assembly elections in Jammu & Kashmir on Tuesday in a re-run of the record polling in the first phase.

Among those killed in the concerted gun battles were a top commander of the Pakistan-based terror outfit LeT and seven militants.