Colonel, Major among 5 security men killed in J&K
Majid Jahangir
Tribune News Service
Handwara, May 3
Security forces today took the biggest hit since the 2019 Pulwama bombing with five personnel, including a decorated Commanding Officer of Army’s elite counter-insurgency unit, a Major and a J&K police officer, killed in a gunfight at a village in north Kashmir’s Handwara. Two militants, including a Pakistan national, were also killed.
Their valour will never be forgotten
Tributes to our courageous soldiers and security personnel martyred in Handwara. They served the nation with utmost dedication and worked tirelessly to protect our citizens
A five-member team led by Col Ashutosh Sharma of 21 Rashtriya Rifles on Saturday entered a house occupied by militants in Chanjimullah village to evacuate civilians , said the Army.
“The team extricated the civilians. In the process, it was subjected to heavy firing by the terrorists. In the ensuing gunfight, two terrorists were eliminated and the team, comprising two Army officers, two soldiers and a J-K Police SI, attained martyrdom,” an Army statement read.
Deeply disturbing
The loss of our soldiers and security personnel in Handwara is deeply disturbing and painful. They showed exemplary courage and made supreme sacrifice while serving the country.
The slain personnel were identified as 45-year-old Col Ashutosh Sharma, Major Anuj Sood, Naik Rajesh Kumar, Lance Naik Dinesh Singh and SI Sageer Ahmad Pathan of Kupwara.
The operation started on Friday afternoon when the Army intercepted militants at Waderbala, part of the dense Rajwar forests used by militants for infiltration.
After a brief exchange of fire, the militants fled. The forces combed the area and widened the operation. On Saturday, fresh contact with a smaller group was established at Chanjimullah village. The Army initially suspected the presence of four militants. “The security forces had inputs that militants were hiding in a cowshed. When a joint team entered a nearby house, the militants shifted base and opened heavy fire inside the house,” said sources. Security forces then lost contact with the team. An officer’s cellphone was picked up by a militant and he answered a few calls. Special Forces were called in. At about midnight, the bodies of the five security men were spotted inside the house using drones.
The operation was intensified and around 2.30 am. The two militants were killed. One of them was identified as Haider, linked to Lashkar-e-Toiba for years. At daybreak, jawans entered the house and recovered the bodies of the five security men.
ABOUT THE RESCUE OP
May 1
3 pm: Ultras intercepted in Rajwar forests, escape
May 2
3 pm: Traced to Chanjimullah village, firing breaks out
5.30 pm: 5-men security team enters house, rescues civilians
6 pm: Firing breaks out,
contact with team lost
6 pm-11 am: Militant takes calls on officer’s mobile
May 3
12 am: Drone spots bodies of 5 security men
2.30 am: 2 ultras killed
5.30 am: Bodies recovered
Himachal Governor, CM express grief
Shimla: HP Governor Bandaru Dattatreya and CM Jai Ram Thakur expressed grief over Major Anuj Sood’s death. The officer belonged to Dehra area of Kangra. “The country will remember the manner in which he laid down his life, fighting bravely,” the CM said. TNS
