Family of Colonel Ashutosh Sharma, killed in Handwara, lives in Jaipur

Jaipur: The family of decorated Colonel Ashutosh Sharma who was among the five security personal killed in an encounter in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kupwara district lives in Jaipur, according to preliminary reports. Ashutosh’s wife Pallavi, their daughter Tamanna, his mother, bother and a sister who live in the city were inconsolable when they received the news of the colonel’s martyrdom on Sunday.

The family originally hails from Bulandshahr. They migrated to Jaipur nearly 20 years ago. While Ashutosh’s wife and daughter live in Rangoli Garden area of Vaishali Nagar, brother Piyush Sharma lives in Ajmer Road area.

Colonel Ashutosh had spoken to his wife for the last time on May 1. He couldn’t be reached due to the Operation against terrorists after Friday. According to reports, the last remains of the officer will be brought to Jaipur where his body will be consigned to flames with army honours.

The encounter had begun on Saturday and continued throughout the night.

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, about 70 km from capital Srinagar, an official statement said, adding that the five-member team was able to rescue several civilians. Two terrorists were killed during the joint operation.

Decorated army officer Colonel Ashutosh Sharma, Major Anuj Sood, Naik Rajesh Kumar and Lance Naik Dinesh from the 21 Rashtriya Rifles unit were a part of the security operation; police officer Shakeel Ahmad Qazi was also with them.