Colonel, major among five killed in Handwara gunfight
SRINAGAR/NEW DELHI: A two-day hunt for a group of terrorists in north Kashmir’s Handwara ended on Saturday night after a fierce, hours-long encounter in which five security force personnel, including the commanding officer of a Rashtriya Rifles battalion and a major, were killed, army officers said on Sunday.
The encounter took place when a joint team of the army and the police, led by Colonel Ashutosh Sharma, zeroed in on a house in Changimulla village in the Rajwar forest area where the terrorists were holding some civilians hostage, the officers said.
Sharma’s team was able to free the hostages, but at the cost of their own lives. Two terrorists were subsequently killed in a firefight with a team of army para commandos that tried to flush them out of the house, according to the officers.
The army identified the personnel killed in action as Colonel and commanding officer Ashutosh Sharma , Major Anuj Sood, Naik Rajesh Kumar and Lance Naik Dinesh Singh,all of 21 Rashtriya Rifles, and sub-inspector Shakeel Qazi of the Jammu and Kashmir Police.
Security forces had been on the trail of the terrorists since May 1 in the Rajwar forest and had even established contact with them twice before they managed to get away and hole up in the village house, taking civilians hostage, the officers cited above said.
The encounter in Changimulla village began around 3.30pm on Saturday and Sharma’s assault team approached the house around 5.30 pm to engage the terrorists and free the hostages.
A few hours later, members of the team outside were unable to contact the colonel on his radio set so they dialled his mobile phone, which was answered by a terrorist with the ‘Assalamualaikum’ greeting, the officers said.
The colonel, who leaves behind his wife and a 12-year-old daughter, had been decorated twice in the past for bravery.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday acknowledged the valour of the security personnel killed in Handwara. “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,” he tweeted.
WHILE COL SHARMA’S FAMILY STAYS IN JAIPUR, MAJOR SOOD IS AN ALUMNUS OF PUNJAB PUBLIC SCHOOL, NABHA; HIS FAMILY IS IN P’KULA
PANCHKULA/NABHA:A pall of gloom descended on Amravati Enclave in Pinjore block of Panchkula district after the news of death of Major Anuj Sood (30) of 21 Rashtriya Rifles reached here.
Maj Sood was among the five security personnel who were killed in an encounter with militants in Jammu Kashmir’s Handwara on Sunday.
His father Brigadier Chandrakant Sood (retd) shifted from Gurugram here along with wife eight months ago. He lives in a rented accommodation in Amravati Enclave where their new house is under construction. Major Anuj’s wife is working in a private company in Pune.
“He has made a supreme sacrifice for saving lives of others. And that’s what he was trained for. I feel a little sad for his wife as he had to move for operations after just three-four months of his marriage in 2017,” his father said. The mortal remains of the deceased will reach Panchkula by Monday.
Major Sood was born on December 17, 1989 in Bangalore where his father was posted at that time. After his school education, he joined the National Defence Academy (NDA), Pune, in 2012.
ALMA MATER REMEMBERS ‘FAUJI’
Major Sood, who studied at Punjab Public School (PPS) from 2006 to 2008, Nabha, was nicknamed as ‘Fauji’ in the school. PPS headmaster Dr Jagpreet Singh said, “The news of Major Sood came as major blow to Nabhaites.”
The teachers and his schoolmates fondly remembered their beloved ‘Fauji’ as a brilliant student, excellent sportsman and a soldier to the core who would stand out in every field. His house master Russeljit Singh Khattra said, “Anuj was a fine orator and missed no extracurricular opportunity.” “Fauji and some other students, including me, used to run away after ringing door bells of our headmaster, bursar and another teacher,” said Raghav his former classmate.
10-LAKH AID, JOB FOR KIN OF SLAIN MANSA SOLDIER
CHANDIGARH/BATHINDA: Punjab chief minister Capt Amarinder Singh on Sunday announced a ₹10-lakh aid and a government job for the kin of Rajesh Kumar, an army jawan hailing from Mansa, who was among five security men killed in an encounter with militants in Handwara. The CM described the incident as a “ghastly and cowardly act” by the militants.
According to a government release, the CM announced a financial aid of ₹10 lakh, including ₹5 lakh as ex gratia and ₹ 5 lakh in lieu of a plot, to the next of kin, besides a government job to one eligible member of his family. Extending his condolences to the family of Naik Rajesh Kumar of 21 RR (Rashtriya Rifles), who belonged to Rajrana village in Sardulgarh tehsil of Mansa, the CM said his heart went out to the “martyred” soldiers.
Meanwhile, a pall of gloom descended on Rajrana village as the news of the soldier’s death reached there.baljinder Singh, former sarpanch of village, said that Rajesh is survived by his parents, two brothers and two sisters. “He was the only earning hand in the family.”
Mansa deputy commissioner Gurpal Singh Chahal said the body of the soldier will arrive in the village on Monday.
DHARAMSHALA MOURNS DEATH OF ARMY MAJOR MARTYRED IN KASHMIR
DHARAMSHALA: Major Anuj Sood who attained martyrdom while fighting terrorists at Changimul of Kupwara district in Kashmir. on Sunday was mourned in Dharamshala. His wife Akriti Singh was in Dharamsala at her parent’s house when she received the news of the martyrdom of her husband.