Colonel, Major among Four solidiers, Police officer killed in Handwara encounter, Two militants also killed

Kupwara 02 May (KNB): An Army Colonel, Major and two solidiers along with a sub-inspector of J&K police were killed in an gunfight that brokeout on Saturday with militants in Chanjimulla Handwara area North Kashmir’s Kupwara district. Two Militants were also Killed in a gunfight.

According to Kashmir News Bureau reports, A Joint operation was by Army , Police along with CRPF after the specific inputs of presence of militants in the area, which triggered in Encounter.

Sources said to KNB that, Army colonel namely Ashtoush Sharma, Major Anup Sood along with two solidiers and sub inspector of JK Police namely Mohammad Sagier Qazi were very close to house where heavy armed militants were holed up.

However,  during the process, the team was subjected to heavy volume of fire by the militants. In the ensuing fire fight, two militants were killed and the team of five army and JK personnel, comprising two Army officers, two Army soldiers and one JK Police Sub Inspector, were also died in gunfight” the army official statement said.

Pertaintely, Security forces launched a cordon and search operation in Chanjmulla area of Handwara in the north Kashmir’s Kupwara district on Friday following inputs about the presence of militants there, a police official said.

He said the security forces maintained a tight cordon and conducted searches in the area.

However, contact with militants was established on Saturday evening and an encounter ensued, the official said.(KNB)