We lost 5 Heroes in Handwara Terrorist Attack

In one of all the deadliest operations for the protection forces within the Valley, an Indian army colonel, a significant and two soldiers, together with a Jammu and Kashmir Police sub-inspector, were killed in a very counter-Terrorist Attack in Handwara, Kashmir late on Saturday.

The 12-hour operation, which came about at Handwara in Kupwara district, also resulted in the killing of two terrorists, the Indian Army said in a very statement.

News agency ANI cited Vijay Kumar, a military officer of police, Jammu, and Kashmir, as saying that a top Lashkar-e Taiba terrorist, identified as Haider, a Pakistani national, was killed within the Terrorist Attack.

Following intelligence inputs that terrorists had taken civilians, hostage, in a very house in Handwara’s Changimulla, a joint team comprising five army personnel and a J&K officer reached the world and managed to rescue the civilians. the protection team, however, came under heavy fire and within the ensuing firefight, all were killed, besides the 2 terrorists, the statement said.

The army colonel killed within the operation was the commander of the Rashtriya Rifles’ 21st Battalion and his death is seen as a blow to the morale of the forces. He was a decorated officer, having been recognized a minimum of twice for bravery in counter-terrorism operations.

PM Narendra Modi and defense minister Rajnath Singh paid tributes to the martyrs.

“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’ll always remember their bravery and sacrifice,” he said.

In a gesture of solidarity, the Indian Air Force in a very Twitter post also honored the dead personnel. “Indian Air Force pays tribute to the brave security personnel of the Indian Army and Jammu and Kashmir Police, who were martyred in action on 2 May in J&K. We Salute the Bravehearts of India.”

The deaths present themselves a month after five commandos belonging to an elite unit were killed along the road of Control in Kashmir’s Keran sector during a close-quarter battle with an equal number of terrorists who were trying to infiltrate into India. The five terrorists were also killed.

Indian Army chief Manoj Mukund Naravane on a visit to Kashmir last month after the Kieran encounter had slammed Pakistan for “exporting terror” at a time when the planet was struggling to regulate the spread of the novel coronavirus. The visit had come amid increasing violations of a 2003 ceasefire pact between the 2 countries.