Five Indian soldiers including two senior officials martyred in an encounter in Jammu-Kashmir

New Delhi: – Five soldiers of the Indian security forces, including a Colonel and a Major, were killed in an encounter with the terrorists in the Handwara area of Jammu-Kashmir. Colonel Ashutosh Sharma, recipient of the Sena Medal, twice, was martyred in the encounter. This is the first instance, in the last five years, that an officer of such a high rank was martyred in an encounter. Colonel Sharma and his unit demonstrated exemplary courage in operation to secure the release of civilians which were held hostage by the terrorists. Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid respects to the martyred soldiers and said that their sacrifice would never be forgotten. The entire nation is paying homage to the martyred soldiers, and at the same time, a wave of anger against the Pakistan-sponsored terrorism is seen to be rising in the country.

The security forces had received an intel regarding the activities of the terrorists in the Handwara area. Following this, the security forces planned a joint operation. Independent units were formed. The encounter started between the security forces and the terrorists in the morning on Saturday. But the terrorists were successful in escaping from the location. During the search operation launched after this, the unit of Colonel Sharma reached near a house in Handwara area. The unit evacuated the civilians from the area on noticing suspicious activities. The unit, led by Colonel Sharma including Major Anuj Sood, Nayak Rajesh, Lance Nayak Dinesh and Sub-Inspector of Police Shakeel Qazi, entered the house without fearing for their lives.

On realising that the soldiers of the security forces had entered the house, the terrorists started indiscriminate firing. Even during the exchange of fire, the soldiers rescued the civilians held hostage in the house to safety. But Colonel Sharma, Major Sood, Nayak Rajesh, Lance Nayak Dinesh and Sub-Inspector of Police Qazi were martyred in the encounter. The terrorists attempted to escape even from this location. But two of the terrorists were killed by the unit waiting outside, while two terrorists successfully escaped in the jungle. A massive search operation has been launched in the area after the incident.

One of the terrorists killed in the encounter has been identified as Haider, a senior Commander of Lashkar-e-Taiba. The place where the encounter took place in Kashmir is close to the Kupwara sector of the Line of Control (LOC). It is believed that the terrorists crossing over the LOC from Pakistan receive assistance from the local terrorists and secret sympathisers in this area. Therefore, it is being predicted that these terrorists must have come to visit the terrorists who had succeeded in crossing the LOC.

Reports had been published that nearly 450 terrorists were in the waiting across the LOC to infiltrate into India. The intelligence agencies had warned that the number of terrorists had doubled at the terrorist launch pads in Pakistan occupied Kashmir over the last two weeks. Last week, Chief of Army Staff, General Naravane, also had accused that Pakistan was resorting to firing on the LOC to provide cover for terrorist infiltration. Reports had also been published that the terrorist groups were plotting a major terror attack in Kashmir. Meanwhile, ‘The Resistance Group’ of Lashkar-e-Taiba has accepted the responsibility of this attack.