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Prime Minister Narendra Modi said Sunday that the five security personnel killed in the Handwara district of Jammu and Kashmir during an operation to rescue civilians taken hostage by terrorists served the country with “utmost dedication”.
The Prime Minister was paying tribute to Colonel Ashutosh Sharma, Major Anuj Sood, Naik Rajesh Kumar and Lance Naik Dinesh Singh, and Jammu-Kashmir Police Deputy Inspector Shakeel Qazi, who fell into duty during an operation in Changimulla de Handwara.
“Tributes to our brave soldiers and security personnel martyred in Handwara. Your courage and sacrifice will never be forgotten. They served the nation with the utmost dedication and worked tirelessly to protect our citizens, ”the Prime Minister tweeted.
“Condolences to their families and friends,” he said.
Before him, Defense Minister Rajnath Singh and the army also offered tributes to security personnel who sacrificed their lives at the Handwara encounter.
“The loss of our soldiers and security personnel in Handwara (J-K) is deeply disturbing and painful. They displayed exemplary courage in their fight against terrorists and made a supreme sacrifice while serving the country. We will never forget his bravery and sacrifice, ”Singh tweeted.
Clock | Handwara Encounter: Army Colonel among 5 martyrs, 2 terrorists shot dead
“This operation exemplified the true tradition and strong determination of #SecurityForces to safeguard the lives of citizens themselves,” the army also posted on Twitter.
Two terrorists, including a senior Lashkar-e-Taiba commander, were also killed in the encounter that started around 3:30 p.m. M. Saturday after they took hostages inside a house in the Handwara district.
