Colonel, Major among five security personnel killed in encounter, two terrorists also killed

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. 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. 

Two terrorists were also killed in the encounter that began around 3:30pm on Saturday in Chanjmulla area of Handwara. According to sources, Colonel Ashutosh Sharma, Major Anuj, a Lance Naik, a rifleman and police sub-inspector Shakeel Qazi were killed in the encounter raging since Saturday afternoon. Their bodies have been recovered from the encounter site.