Colonel Ashutosh Sharma was one of the five security personnel killed in Handwara encounter.
Srinagar:
Two senior army officers - a colonel and a major- were among five security personnel killed in action during an encounter in Jammu and Kashmir's Kupwara district, which began on Saturday and continued late night. A police officer and two soldiers were also part of the five-member team that came under heavy fire from terrorists.
A joint anti-terrorist operation by the armed forces and the J&K Police was carried out in the Handwara area of the district in north Kashmir, about 70 km from capital Srinagar, an official statement said, adding that the five-member team was able to rescue several civilians. Two terrorists were killed during the joint operation.
Decorated army officer Colonel Ashutosh Sharma, Major Anuj Sood, Naik Rajesh Kumar and Lance Naik Dinesh from the 21 Rashtriya Rifles unit were part of the security operation; police officer Shakeel Ahmad Qazi was also with them. "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," Director General of Police Dilbagh Singh told news agency PTI.
