Asmany as five security force personnel, including a Colonel, a Major and apolice officer were martyred in anintense gun battle with terrorists in Handwara in north Kashmir.

"FourIndian Army personnel including the Commanding Officer, Major of 21 RashtriyaRifles unit along with 2 soldiers and one Jammu and Kashmir Police jawan losttheir lives in an encounter in Handwara in Jammu and Kashmir," Army officials toldmedia on Sunday.

The martyredCommanding Officer of 21 Rashtriya Rifles has been identified as ColonelAshutosh Sharma. According to Army sources, he was part of several successfulcounter-terrorism operations in the past.

Meanwhile,two terrorists were neutralised in the encounter. The team of Rashtriya Rifles upon receiving Intel that civilians werebeing held hostage inside a home in Changimulla, Handwara, launched a jointoperation with the J&K Police and the Indian Army. However, the security forcescame under attack from militants as soon as they entered the home.

Currently, the civilians stuck inthe house have been evacuated safely.