(Image source from: gulfnews.com)

Five security personnel were killed in an encounter with militants in Kashmir, killing an Army Colonel and a Major. The events took place in a village situated in north Kashmir’s Handwara area. The reports were stated by Director General of Police, Dilbagh Singh.

“Sad to inform that five brave personnel including Colonel Ashutosh Sharma, Major Anuj Sood and sub-inspector of JKP Shakeel Qazi were martyred in the line of duty,” Singh further clarified.

Paying a tribute to the martyrs, PM Narendra Modi said that their sacrifices and valour for the country will never be forgotten.

“Tributes to our courageous soldiers and security personnel martyred in Handwara. Their valour and sacrifice will never be forgotten. They served the nation with utmost dedication and worked tirelessly to protect our citizens. Condolences to their families and friends,” PM Modi tweeted.

The Army further clarified that based off of the intelligence report that they received, the militants found were taking hostage some of the civilians in a house located in the village where the attack happened.

A joint operation by the Indian Army along with the Jammu and Kashmir police was launched to retrieve the hostages.

A team include five security personnel were sent out on site around the target area that was captured by the militants. They were able to extricate the civilians but had to lose their own lives in the process.

During the process of extrication, the team experience a very bad fire that was started by the militants, killing the five Indian troops along with two militants in the process.

To salute the sacrifice that these martyrs have shown to the world, a wreath-laying ceremony was conducted following which the bodies of Col. Sharma was flown to Bulandshahr in Uttar Pradesh and Major Sood’s body was sent to Chandigarh.

By Somapika Dutta