The commanding officer of the 21 Rashtriya Rifles unit, who lost his life in operation in Handwara, had been twice awarded gallantry medals for exemplary bravery in counter-terrorist missions.
He is also the first Commanding Officer or a Colonel-rank Army person in the last five years to have lost his life in an encounter with terrorists. He was twice awarded the Sena Medal for gallantry including one for his bravery as commanding officer.
On May 1 security forces chased a group terrorist in Handwara, north Kashmir. They were holed up in a house in the Chanjimulla village. An encounter ensued in which the terrorist even used civilians including women and children as a human shield. In the gunfight, while two terrorists were eliminated, two Army officers, two soldiers, and one J&K Police Sub-Inspector were also martyred. Col Ashutosh Sharma of 21 Rashtriya Rifles was among the martyrs.
Col Sharma was commanding a Rashtriya Rifles battalion in the Rajwar area of Handwara tehsil and he entered the house where the terrorists were hiding along with Major, two soldiers deployed as personal guards of the commanding officer in addition to a police Sub-Inspector of the SOG and his guard, a constable. The others have been identified as company commander Major Anuj Sood, 30, Naik Rajesh Kumar, 29, Lance Naik Dinesh Singh, 24, and J&K Police Sub Inspector Sageer Pathan aka Qazi, 41. The group had entered the house to rescue civilians. But they soon lost radio contact with security surrounding the vicinity which raised concern about the group’s safety.
Col Sharma hailed from Bulandshahar in Uttar Pradesh and is survived by wife Pallavi Sharma and 12-year-old daughter Tamanna.
His wife Pallavi said, "I had last spoken to Col Sharma on May 1. Thereafter, he went for the operation. Last time, I had met him on February 28 in Udhampur. Thereafter, we had always spoken on the phone."
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She also said, "I am a proud wife as my husband sacrificed his life while protecting the nation. Will not shed tears on his martyrdom. It is an honour to be sacrificed for the country," she said.
Army chief General M M Naravane also paid his tribute and led the rank and file in paying tributes to the five brave Army and Jammu and Kashmir Police personnel. A tweet by Additional Directorate General of Public Information said, "This operation exemplified true tradition and strong determination of the security forces to safeguard the lives of its own citizens. The Commanding Officer leading from the front along with others is a testimony to our motto of 'Service before Self'."
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh also paid their respect to the brave hearts. A report by IANS said that the Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Sunday announced Rs 50 lakh for the family of Colonel Ashutosh Sharma.