Handwara encounter: Two senior army officers were among five killed in action in the encounter.
Two senior army officers - a colonel and a major- were among five security personnel killed in action during an encounter in Handwara in Jammu and Kashmir's Kupwara district. A police officer and two army soldiers were also killed as the security personnel came under heavy fire during the encounter which began on Saturday. Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid tribute to the soldiers and security personnel killed in the encounter. "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," PM Modi tweeted. Two terrorists were killed during the joint operation by the army and the Jammu and Kashmir police.
Here are the reactions after the Handwara encounter:
Ashok Gehlot, Sachin Pilot Condole Killing Of Soldiers In Kashmir
Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot and his deputy Sachin Pilot on Sunday condoled the deaths of Army personnel in an encounter with terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir.
Colonel Ashutosh Sharma, who hailed from Jaipur, was killed in the encounter in Handwara in Kupwara district of Jammu and Kashmir, along with Major Anuj Sood, Naik Rajesh Kumar, Lance Naik Dinesh, and police Sub-Inspector Sageer Ahmad Pathan alias Qazi.
"Salute the martyrdom of our four army personnel including Colonel Ashutosh Sharma, Major Anuj, a Lance Naik, a rifleman & a police sub inspector in an encounter with the terrorists in J&K''s Handwara. My heartfelt condolences to their families and prayers that they find strength," Mr Gehlot said.
"I salute the martyrdom of our army personnel, including Colonel Ashutosh Sharama ji, Major Anju ji, taking on terrorists in Handwara of Jammu and Kashmir. My deepest condolences are with the family of the martyrs in this difficult time," Mr Pilot tweeted.
Yogi Adityanath Announces Rs 50 Lakh Compensation, Government Job For Colonel Ashutosh Sharma's Family
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has ordered Rs 50 lakh to be given as compensation to the next of kin of Colonel Ashutosh Sharma, the Commanding Officer of the 21 Rashtriya Rifles unit, who lost his life in the encounter in Jammu and Kashmir's Handwara, according to Additional Chief Secretary (Home) Awanish Awasthi on Sunday.
"Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has directed to provide Rs 50 lakh as compensation to next of kin of Colonel Ashutosh Sharma who lost his life in Handwara (J-K) encounter and government job to one of his family members," Mr Awasthi said.
Amarinder Singh Announces Rs 10 Lakh Aid, Job To Family Of Army Jawan Killed In J&K's Handwara
Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh announced a Rs 10 lakh aid and a job to the immediate family of an Army jawan from the state killed in an encounter with terrorists in north Kashmir's Handwara on Sunday.
He termed the attack a ghastly act at a time when the whole word was grappling with the coronavirus pandemic.
Naik Rajesh Kumar, a soldier who hailed from Mansa district of Punjab, was among five security personnel killed in the anti-terror operation which began on Saturday and continued till late last night.
Handwara Operation Shows Armed Forces' Commitment Towards Saving Civilian Lives: General Bipin RawatThe Handwara operations, in which five security personnel including a Colonel were killed, highlights the commitment of the armed forces to secure lives of common people, Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat said on Sunday.
In the operation, 21 Rashtriya Rifles Commanding Officer Col Ashutosh Sharma along with Major Anuj Sood, Naik Rajesh and Lance Naik Dinesh lost their lives along with Sub Inspector Nazeer of Jammu Kashmir Police while trying to rescue hostages from terrorists.
"The operations highlight the determination of the security forces to safeguard the lives of the people. Commanding Officer leading from the front along with other personnel of the unit and J&K Police have laid down their lives, living up to the motto; Service Before Self," the CDS said in a statement.
ANI
Home Minister Amit Shah Extends Condoles Death Of Soldiers In Kashmir
Home Minister Amit Shah has expressed grief and extended his condoles on death of soldiers in Jammu and Kashmir.
"I bow to our soldiers and security personnel martyred while protecting our motherland during an encounter with terrorists in Handwara in Jammu and Kashmir. Nation will always remain indebted to their supreme sacrifice. My deepest condolences to their bereaved families," Amit Shah tweeted.
BJP President JP Nadda condoles death of security personnel in Kashmir encounter
BJP President J P Nadda on Sunday condoled the death of security personnel in an encounter with terrorists in Kashmir.
An Army Colonel and a Major were among five security personnel killed in an encounter with terrorists at a village in north Kashmir's Handwara area.
"Received the sad news of our soldiers making the supreme sacrifice in an encounter with terrorists in Handwara in Jammu and Kashmir. I bow to the martyrs and pray for peace to their souls. May God give their grieving families the strength to bear the loss," Mr Nadda tweeted.
PM Modi Pays Tribute To Soldiers, Security PersonnelPM Modi tweeted, "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."
Handwara Encounter
BJP president JP Nadda condoled the death of the soldiers and the security personnel. "Received the sad news of our soldiers making the supreme sacrifice in an encounter with terrorists in Handwara in Jammu and Kashmir. I bow to the martyrs and pray for peace to their souls. May God give their grieving families the strength to bear the loss," Mr Nadda tweeted.
Punjab Chief Minister Annouces Compensation For Soldier's FamilyPunjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh has announced a government job and Rs 10 lakh compensation for the family of Naik Rajesh Kumar who was killed in action in the encounter in Handwara. "My deep condolences to the family of NK Rajesh Kumar, 21 RR, from village Rajrana, District Mansa, who laid down his life for the Nation while fighting militants in Handwara. A Government job and Rs. 10 Lakh as Ex-Gratia will be given as a mark of respect to the Next of Kin," he tweeted.
Chief Of Defence Staff On Handwara Encounter
Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat said in a statement: "Operations in Handwara, J&K highlight the determination of the security forces to safeguard the lives of the people."
"After a long anxious night, we have this heart-rending news about martyrdom of our brave-hearts," senior Jammu and Kashmir police officer Imtiyaz Hussain tweeted along with a photo of Colonel Ashutosh Sharma who was among the five killed in the line of duty.
Army Statement On Handwara EncounterHere is what the army said in a statement:
"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)."
"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.
Handwara Encounter
Dilbagh Singh, Jammu and Kashmir Director General of Police (DGP), told news agency PTI: "Sad to inform that five brave personnel including Colonel Ashutosh Sharma, Major Anuj Sood and sub-inspector of JKP Shakeel Qazi were martyred in the line of duty."
Rajnath Singh On Handwara Encounter"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," Defence Minister Rajnath Singh tweeted.
Handwara Encounter: Omar Abdullah Pays Tribute To Officers, Security Personnel
National Conference leader and former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah paid truibute to the the army officers and security personnel killed in action in the Handwara encounter: "Sorry to hear about the army & police officers & the jawan who laid down their lives in the line of duty in Handwara this morning. May their souls rest in peace & may their families & colleagues find strength at this difficult time," he tweeted.