Five security personnel killed in encounter with terrorists in Kashmir's Handwara

Majid Jahangir

Tribune News Service

Handwara, May 3

An Army Colonel and a Major were among five security personnel killed in an encounter at a village in Handwara in north Kashmir that also saw the elimination of two terrorists, officials said on Sunday.

Army officers Col Ashutosh Sharma and Major Anuj, and Jammu and Kashmir Police Sub-Inspector Shakeel Qazi were among the deceased, they said.

Giving details, the Army said based on the intelligence input that terrorists were taking hostage some civilians in a house in Changimulla at Handwara of Kupwara district, a joint operation was launched by the Army and the Jammu and Kashmir Police.

A team comprising five Army and police personnel entered the target area occupied by the terrorists to evacuate the civilians and successfully extricated them, it said.

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However, during the process, the team came under a heavy fire by the terrorists and in the ensuing firefight, two terrorists were eliminated and the four Army personnel and a policeman were killed in the line of duty, the Army said.

The terrorists are believed to have come to Handwara to receive an infiltrating group from Pakistan Occupied Kashmir, officials said.

Besides Colonel Sharma and Major Sood, the other Army personnel killed in the encounter were identified as Naik Rajesh and Lance Naik Dinesh.

Col Sharma was the Commanding Officer of the 21 Rashtriya Rifles and had been decorated for gallantry twice in Kashmir.

This is the second time in the last 20 years that 21 Rashtriya Rifles have lost their commanding officer. In 2000, Colonel RS Chauhan of the 21 RR and a Brigadier SS Shergil were killed in an IED blast.

'Proud of their courage'

CDS General Bipin Rawat said: "Operations in Handwara, J&K highlight the determination of the security forces to safeguard the lives of the people."

"Commanding Officer leading from the front along with other personnel of the unit and J&K Police have laid down their lives, living upto the motto; Service Before Self."

"The Armed Forces are proud of their courage as they have successfully eliminated the terrorists. We salute these brave personnel and express our deep felt condolences for the bereaved families," Rawat said.