Five militants killed, army loses two soldiers in Jammu and Kashmir encounter

A soldier from Maharashtra has made the country proud by fighting gallantly against the highly entrenched militants before laying down his life for the motherland in Jammu and Kashmir.

Naik Shinde Shankar Chandrabhan of Bayale village in Nashik district of Maharashtra was among two soldiers of Indian Army who attained martyrdom while fighting highly-trained militants in Zoonreshi village of Chowkibal in Kupwara district on Saturday. Another martyr who made the country proud was identified as Gunner Sahadev Maruti of Karnataka.

Five militants were killed in the operation that lasted for more than 20 hours in the upper reaches of Kupwara. Two other ranks of the Indian army suffered injuries in the operation.

Survived by his wife and two children, Naik Shinde was the second soldier of Maharashtra who died in the line of duty in the last 10 days in J&K.

Sepoy nursing assistant Suryawanshi SV of Satara, Maharashtra was among the 10 soldiers who were buried under the tonnes of snow and ice after massive avalanche hit their post at the altitude of 19,600 feet in Siachen glacier on February 3.

Coming from a humble agriculture background, 34-year-old Naik Shinde was the younger of two brothers. Fondly called Master for his instructional capabilities, Naik Shinde in his 15 years of service has served at difficult and hostile places across the globe.

A physically fit having exceptional firing skills, Naik Shinde was part of UN peace keeping mission in Southern Sudan in 2012. Earlier in 2006-07 he was posted in the same RR unit to combat militancy. His elder brother is junior commissioned officer in the elite Para (Special Forces) battalion of Indian army

Youngest of three brothers, Gunner Sahdev, 26, has been a district level player of Kabaddi and Volleyball.

Good in academics who secured first division in matriculation, Gunner Sahdev was engaged on November 15 and was to proceed for marriage in a week's time. He purposely delayed the marriage to allow prospective bride to complete her education.

It was a raw courage filled with indomitable spirit and coupled with patriotic fervour that defined Naik Shinde Shankar Chandrabhan and Gunner Sahadev Maruti, both from the 41 Rashtriya Riffles (RR), in their fight against militancy in Jammu and Kashmir.

The two were part of the assault team that took on the militants at the first sight after receiving the tip off about their presence in the village. Displaying exemplary valour, the two soldiers engaged the militants in a fierce gun fight before getting hit by a volley of bullets. Even after receiving gun shots, the soldiers did not leave but continued to fight the militants to prevent their escape.

"The army lost two of its gallant soldiers who were the leading scouts. Despite bearing the brunt of the initial volley of fire, stood their ground for each other and the rest of the search team thus facilitating elimination of all five terrorists," said Colonel NN Joshi, defence spokesman at Srinagar.

Both soldiers belonged to 41 RR, the same unit, which was spearheading one of the longest anti militancy operations in high altitude Manigah forests of Kupwara in November last year. On November 17, 2015 Colonel Santosh Mahadik, a highly decorated para-commando of Satara Maharashtra, who was commanding officer of the 41 RR, died fighting militants at Manigah forest area.

The joint operation was launched by the army and J&K police on Friday after receiving information on the presence of some terrorists in the Zoonreshi village.

"Despite the disadvantage of being fired upon by terrorists from the upper floor of the house, the soldiers immediately retaliated. As the soldiers engaged the terrorists, additional reinforcement effectively cordoned off the house to prevent escape of the terrorists. The operation which continued overnight has resulted in elimination of five terrorists," said Col Joshi.