Three CRPF personnel killed in militant attack in Kupwara, area cordoned

A day after five security forces personnel were killed in a counter-terror operation, three CRPF personnel were killed in a militant attack on Monday. The attack took place in the Kupwara district of Jammu and Kashmir.

The attackers opened fire on a CPRF Naka party at Wangam-Qaziabad in Kralgund area of the district, they said. Three CRPF jawans were killed on the spot, they said.

The area has been cordoned off and additional forces rushed there to track down the assailants, the officials said, adding further details are awaited.

A Colonel and a Major were among five security personnel killed in an encounter at a village in north Kashmir's Handwara area, officials said on Sunday.

In a stern warning to Pakistan, Army Chief Gen MM Naravane said India will respond appropriately and with "precision" to any acts of cross-border misadventure unless Islamabad gives up its policy of state-sponsored terrorism and coercing people in Kashmir to follow its "Azadi narrative". Referring to the Handwara encounter, Gen. Naravane said India is proud of Col Ashutosh Sharma, the Commanding Officer of 21 Rashtriya Rifles battalion, and four other security personnel who laid down their lives saving civilians from terrorists at a village in Handwara in north Kashmir on Saturday night.

Army Chief General Manoj Mukund Naravane during an intervew. PTI

"I would like to emphasise that Indian Army will give proportionate response to all acts of infringement of ceasefire and its (Pakistan's) support to terrorism. The onus remains with Pakistan to bring peace in the region," the Chief of Army Staff said.

Two terrorists were also killed in the encounter at the Chanjmulla area of Handwara, which is part of north Kashmir's Kupwara district, they said. The Army officers were leading a team to rescue civilians who had been taken hostage by the terrorists, the officials said.

Colonel Ashutosh Sharma, Commanding Officer of 21 Rashtriya Rifles unit lost his life in the encounter along with Major Anuj Sood. He had been part of several successful counter-terrorism operations in the past.