Colonel, major among five killed during J&K's Kupwara encounter
Srinagar/IBNS: Two senior Indian Army personnel-a colonel and a major-were martyred during an encounter with terrorists at Kupwara District in Jammu and Kashmir which began on Saturday. A police officer and two army soldiers were also killed when the security personnel came under heavy fire, said reports.
Two terrorists were also killed in the Handwara area of the district in north Kashmir.
During the joint operation with the Jammu and Kashmir Police, the Indian army recovered weapons and warlike stores.
Official sources said that following specific information about presence of militants, a joint Cordon and Search Operation (CASO) was launched by Special Operations Group (SOG) of J&K police, Army and CRPF at Chanjmullah in Handwara.
"Based on the intelligence input that terrorists were taking the civilian inmates of a house in Changimulla, (in the) Handwara (area) of Kupwara district, hostage, a joint operation was launch by Army and JK Police. A team comprising of five Army and JK Police personnel entered the target area occupied by the terrorists to evacuate the civ (civilians)," a statement read.
"The team of Army and JK Police entered the tgt (target) area and successfully extricated the civ. However, during the process, the team was subjected to heavy volume of fire by the terrorists," it added.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh in a reaction said he is deeply pained and disturbed by the loss of the soldiers.
The loss of our soldiers and security personnel in Handwara(J&K) is deeply disturbing and painful. They showed exemplary courage in their fight against the terrorists and made supreme sacrifice while serving the country. We will never forget their bravery and sacrifice.
— Rajnath Singh (@rajnathsingh) May 3, 2020
I offer my tributes to the soldiers and security personnel who fell in action. My heart goes out to the families who lost their loved ones today. India stands shoulder to shoulder with the families of these brave martyrs.
— Rajnath Singh (@rajnathsingh) May 3, 2020
This was the second encounter in the valley on Saturday.
Earlier on Saturday, two militants were killed in an encounter with security forces in south Kashmir district of Pulwama.
#IndianArmy#OpDangerpura(#Pulwama). Two #terrorists eliminated. Weapons and warlike stores recovered. Joint operation in progress.@adgpi @SpokespersonMoD @crpfindia @JmuKmrPolice
— NorthernComd.IA (@NorthernComd_IA) May 2, 2020
Two Army personnel were also killed during the attack.
The martyred army officers have been identified as Havildar Gokaran Singh and Naik Shankar Singh Mehra.
#IndianArmy#LtGenYKJoshi, #ArmyCdrNC and all ranks salute the supreme sacrifice of Havildar Gokaran Singh and Naik Shankar Singh Mehra; offer deepest condolences to the families.@adgpi@SpokespersonMoD pic.twitter.com/c8GoNNj4Hq
— NorthernComd.IA (@NorthernComd_IA) May 2, 2020
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