Handwara: In a brave fight against the terrorist, a colonol, major and two jawans of the Indian Army along with a sub-inspector of Jammu and Kashmir Police martyred in an encounter in North Kashmir’s Handwara on Sunday. Two terrorists were also killed in the encounter.
Among those martyred is the Commanding Officer, Major of 21 Rashtriya Rifles (RR) unit, SM Colonel Ashutosh Sharma, Major Anuj Sood, Naik Rajesh and Lance Naik Dinesh and Sub Inspector Shakeel Qazi of the Jammu and Kashmir police.
The team had went to rescue civilians who were held by the terrorists. The Indian Army launched a massive operation Chanjmulla area of Handwara in Kupwara district on Friday after a large group of terrorists were spotted. Internet services were also snapped in Handwara as part of the operation, according to sources.
The team led by Col Sharma were rescuing hostages with Lance Naik and a Rifleman when they came under heavy fire which was effectively retaliated by the security personnel in the outer cordon.
In the early hours of Sunday, a major offensive was launched by the security forces after they lost the connection with Colonel and his team. Two terrorists were killed in the encounter.
Col Sharma had been twice awarded gallantry medals for exemplary bravery in counter-terrorist missions. Unfortunately, he is also the first Colonel-rank Army person who lost his life inan encounter with militants in the last five years.
