Five army officials, including two senior army officials- a colonel and a major were killed in action during an encounter in Jammu and Kashmir's Kupwara district. The encounter began on May 2 and continued till late at night. A police officer and two soldiers were also part of the five-member team that came under heavy fire from terrorists. Reportedly, a joint anti-terrorist operation by the armed forces and the J&K police was carried out in the Handwara area of the district in north Kashmir, around 70 km from Srinagar. The five-member team was also able to rescue several civilians. Two terrorists were killed during the joint operation. army officer Colonel Ashutosh Sharma’s family mourned his death and was proud of his supreme sacrifice. Piyush Sharma, Late Col Ashutosh Sharma’s Brother said, “Everyone should respect this sacrifice and pray for his soul. My younger son will also become an army officer. He always wanted to be part of the army.” PM Narendra Modi tweeted that the ‘valour and sacrifice’ of the security personnel ‘will never be forgotten’. Chief of the Army Staff General MM Naravane and all ranks of Indian army also admired the "supreme sacrifice" of the joint team.