The Indian cricket fraternity has paid rich tribute to five security personnel who were martyred in an encounter with militants at Handwara in Kashmir district of Kupwara on Sunday.
Col Ashutosh Sharma, Major Anuj Sood, Naik Rajesh Kumar, Lance Naik Dinesh Singh, and J&K Police Sub Inspector Sageer Pathan were slain in the fierce gun battle which was confirmed by Director General of Police Dilbagh Singh.
“Based on the intelligence input that terrorists were taking the civilian inmates of a house in Changimulla, (in the) Handwara (area) of Kupwara district, hostage, a joint operation was launch by Army and JK Police. A team comprising of five Army and JK Police personnel entered the target area occupied by the terrorists to evacuate the civ (civilians),” the official statement read.
“The team of Army and JK Police entered the tgt (target) area and successfully extricated the civ. However, during the process, the team was subjected to a heavy volume of fire by the terrorists,” it added.
Indian cricket team captain Virat Kohli, Gautam Gambhir, Suresh Raina, Yuvraj Singh, Irfan Pathan, KL Rahul, Rishabh Pant, Prithvi Shaw, among others were shocked to hear the demise of security forces personnel and took to Twitter to pay their tributes to the fallen.
Here are some of the tweets:
India remains only because some of her sons choose to face bullets, bombs & death so that we live on!
NEVER FORGET! #Handwara #IndianArmy— Gautam Gambhir (@GautamGambhir) May 3, 2020
Those who don't forget their duty in any circumstances are true heroes. Their sacrifices must not be forgotten. I bow my head to the army personnel & the policemen who lost their lives at Handwara and sincerely send my condolences to their families and wish them peace🙏🏼🥺Jai Hind pic.twitter.com/HIAltyZ7QX
— Virat Kohli (@imVkohli) May 3, 2020
It’s heartbreaking to hear we lost five jawans today. It’s a big loss for our country and extremely sad that our soldiers are facing such plight on the borders while protecting us. My salute to the Martyrs for their sacrifices & helftfelt condolences to the families. #Kupwara pic.twitter.com/HrLMpoHkKo
— Suresh Raina🇮🇳 (@ImRaina) May 3, 2020
Sad to hear about the loss of lives of our brave jawans. My heartfelt condolences to the families of the jawans who attained martyrdom in #HandwaraEncounter You are the real bravehearts of the nation. We salute your supreme sacrifice.
— Irfan Pathan (@IrfanPathan) May 3, 2020
We as a nation will never forget the sacrifices of our brave soldiers and security personnel. I salute all our heroes of Indian army & the policemen who we lost today at the #HandwaraEncounter My heartfelt condolences to the martyrs families. pic.twitter.com/GJZNJOonhr
— Yuvraj Singh (@YUVSTRONG12) May 3, 2020
Saluting these bravehearts who lost their lives protecting the country. Sincere condolences and prayers for the families. Jai Hind & R.I.P. 🙏 #Kupwara #IndianArmy pic.twitter.com/Rqe7Z3HlgL
— Shikhar Dhawan (@SDhawan25) May 3, 2020
My condolences to the families of the brave soldiers whom we lost in the #HindwaraEncounter
We salute your supreme sacrifice. #RIP— Ravindrasinh jadeja (@imjadeja) May 3, 2020
#RIP the brave soldiers of our nation who lost their lives in the #HandwaraEncounter
Your sacrifice will never be forgotten. 🙏🏻
My condolences to the families and may god give them strength.— K L Rahul (@klrahul) May 3, 2020
Heartfelt condolences to the friends & families of Handwara martyrs. Your unconditional service & sacrifices will never be forgotten. 🙏🙏Jai Hind🇮🇳 pic.twitter.com/4QdtytkzlV
— Rishabh Pant (@RishabhPant17) May 3, 2020
The sacrifice of the brave soldiers of our nation, we will never forget. You fought to protect us and gave up your lives for us. My heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families. #RIP #HandwaraEncounter
— Kuldeep yadav (@imkuldeep18) May 3, 2020
Sad day for the nation as we lost our jawans who fought to defend our country. My condolences to their families and we will never forget your sacrifice. #RIP #HandwaraEncounter
— Harmanpreet Kaur (@ImHarmanpreet) May 3, 2020
Even during these testing times our tough soldiers stood by their duties at the #Handwara encounter, sacrifices made by them to protect our nation will forever be etched in our memories. I salute each & every one of them & my heartfelt condolences to their families.
Jai Hind! 🙏— Prithvi Shaw (@PrithviShaw) May 4, 2020
