Handwara encounter: Army guns down top LeT Commander, loses 5 brave-hearts

 

In a big blow to terror outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba, Indian Army gaining control over J&K’s Handwara encounter has gunned down its top commander for Kashmir valley, Haider from Pakistan. However, during the encounter, a Colonel, Major, and two Jawans of the Indian Army along with a sub-inspector of J&K police got martyred in the gunfight. All five had gone missing during the operation in Kupwara district of Jammu and Kashmir on Saturday.

 

 

Earlier on Friday, security forces launched a cordon and search operation in Chanjmulla area of Handwara in the north Kashmir's Kupwara district following inputs about the presence of some terrorists there, a police official said. Though the security forces maintained a tight cordon and conducted searches in the area, the contact with terrorists was established on Saturday evening and an encounter ensued, the official said.

 

 

 

 

Meanwhile, the Army sources said five security forces personnel had gone missing as contact was lost with them. The five personnel included two officers, two Jawans, and a SI of J&K Police who were later reported to be martyred in the encounter in Handwara. The team of 21 Rashtriya Rifles had entered the house of a civilian to prevent a hostage situation when they came under attack from the terrorists who had already reached there. Two terrorists were neutralized in the encounter and the civilians trapped in the house were safely evacuated.

 

 

Though the commanding officer of 21 Rashtriya Rifles, Ashutosh Sharma gave up his life along with his 2 brave officers and Jawans in the line of duty to save the civilians, but their sacrifices did not go in vain. As the encounter led to the death of top Lashkar-e-Taiba commander Haider, who was active since 2015. He was terror outfit’s chief for Kashmir valley, quoted IG Kashmir, Vijay Kumar.

 

 

 

 

Saluting the martyrs of the operation, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh condoled the deaths on his social media handle and praised the martyred soldiers’ bravery and supreme sacrifice for the country.