![Martyrs of Handwara encounter being paid last respect by Army and other security agencies at Badami Bagh Cantonment in Srinagar. Martyrs of Handwara encounter being paid last respect by Army and other security agencies at Badami Bagh Cantonment in Srinagar.](https://cdndailyexcelsior.b-cdn.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/page3-1-2.jpg)
Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, May 4: Army today paid a befitting tributes to Late Col Ashutosh Sharma, Late Maj Anuj Sood, Late Naik Rajesh Kumar and Late Lance Naik Dinesh Singh who were martyred on May 2 in an encounter with terrorists at Handwara in Kupwara sector.
In a solemn ceremony at Badami Bagh Cantonment, Northern Army Commander Lt Gen Y K Joshi, Lt Gen BS Raju Chinar Corps Commander and all ranks paid homage to the martyrs on behalf of a proud nation. In a show of solidarity, representatives from other security agencies also joined in to pay their last respects. Click here to watch video
Late Col Ashutosh Sharma and his team were leading a counter terrorist operation in village Chanjimul, district Kupwara. In a valiant effort to save innocent civilian lives, while putting their own lives in grave danger, they eliminated two terrorists in the operation. In the ensuing firefight, Col Ashutosh Sharma, Maj Anuj Sood, Naik Rajesh Kumar, Lance Naik Dinesh Singh and Sub Inspector Sageer Ahmed Qazi of J&K police made the supreme sacrifice in service to the nation.
Late Col Ashutosh Sharma, 44, had joined the Army in 2002. He hailed from Bulandshahr, Uttar Pradesh and was residing in Jaipur, Rajasthan. He is survived by his wife and a daughter while hailing from Pune (Maharashtra), Late Maj Anuj Sood was 30 years old and had joined the Army in 2012. He is survived by his wife.
Late Naik Rajesh Kumar hailed from village Rajrana of tehsil Sardulgarh, district Mansa of Punjab and was 29 years old. He joined the Army in 2010 and is survived by his parents. Late Lance Naik Dinesh Singh, aged 24 years, had joined the Army in 2015. He belonged to village Mirgaon of tehsil Bhanoli, district Almora of Uttarakhand. He is survived by his parents.
The mortal remains of the martyrs were taken for last rites to their native place, where they would be laid to rest with full military honours.