A colonel, major and two soldiers of the Indian Army along with a Jammu & Kashmir (J&K) police sub-inspectors lost their lives in an encounter with terrorists.
As per reports, security forces launched a search operation in Chanjmulla area of Handwara in Jammu & Kashmir on Sunday following inputs about the presence of militants in the area.
After the security personnel entered a house in which terrorists had taken cover, there was a heavy firing following which the five security personnel were martyred.
Army officials confirmed that two terrorists were also killed during the firing that took place between the security forces and the terrorists.
“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. A team comprising five Army and JK Police personnel entered the target area occupied by the terrorists to evacuate the civilians. The team of Army and JK Police entered the area and successfully extricated the civilians,” an official statement read.
“However, during the process, the team was subjected to a heavy volume of fire by the terrorists,” it added.
“In the ensuing firefight, two terrorists were eliminated by the Army team with five of its members attaining martyrdom,” it further.
The Indian Army revealed that the names of the martyred soldiers are Colonel Ashutosh Sharma, Major Anuj Sood, Naik Rakesh Kumar, Lieutenant Naik Dinesh Singh and Sub-Inspector Shakeel Qazi.
“We salute Col Ashutosh Sharma, SM*, Maj Anuj Sood, Nk Rakesh Kumar, L/Nk Dinesh Singh & SI Shakeel Qazi and express our deep-felt condolences to the bereaved families. This operation exemplified true tradition and strong determination of the #SecurityForces to safeguard the lives of own citizens. The Commanding Officer leading from the front along with others is testimony to the motto of Service before Self,” it tweeted.