Indian Army Colonel, Major among 5 security men martyred in Handwara operation; 2 terrorists killed

Four Indian Army personnel including the Commanding Officer of an unit of Indian Army's counter-insurgency force, a Major, two soldiers and one Jammu and Kashmir Police officer were martyred in an encounter in Chanjmulla area of Jammu and Kashmir's Handwara on Sunday (May 3). Two terrorists were also killed in the encounter, said Army sources.

It is learnt that an Indian Army unit had entered the house of a civilian to prevent a hostage situation when the terrorists opened fire on them. The troops managed to safely evacuate the civilians from the house.

"A team comprising of 5 Army and JK Police personnel entered the target area occupied by terrorists to evacuate the civilians. The team of Army and JK Police entered the area and successfully extricated the civilians," an Army spokesperson was quoted as saying by ANI.

However, in the fierce exchange of fire, the Army lost four bravehearts including two officers. One Jammu and Kashmir officer accompanying the Army unit was also killed.

The encounter started on Saturday (May 2) after the security forces succeeded in trapping the terrorists inside the house located in the forest of Handwara.

"Based on the intelligence input that terrorists were taking the civilian inmates of a house in Changimulla, Handwara of Kupwara district hostage, a joint operation was launched by Army and JK Police," added the Army spokesperson.

Colonel Ashutosh Sharma, Commanding Officer of 21 RRR, got martyred in the encounter. Colonel Sharma had been part of several successful counter-terrorist operations in the past.

Colonel Sharma was leading a team to rescue civilians who had been taken hostage by the terrorists hiding in the house. As the hostages were being rescued, the team, which also consisted of a Lance Naik and a Rifleman also, came under heavy fire which was effectively retaliated by the security personnel in the outer cordon.

Besides Colonel Sharma, Major Anuj Sood, Naik Rajesh Kumar and Lance Naik Dinesh Singh and sub-inspector of Jammu-Kashmir police Shakeel Qazi were martyred in the line of duty.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh expressed deep grief over the martyrdom of these security personnel and said, "I offer my tributes to the soldiers and security personnel who fell in action. My heart goes out to the families who lost their loved ones today. India stands shoulder to shoulder with the families of these brave martyrs."