The Army on Monday paid befitting tribute to four of its comrades who made the supreme sacrifice during a counter terrorist operation in the Kashmir valley. Three terrorists, including the mastermind of the Pulwama terror attack that killed 44 CRPF jawans, were eliminated in the 10-hour-long Pulwama encounter that also left a police head constable dead.

In a solemn ceremony at BB Cantonment, Lt Gen KJS Dhillon, Chinar Corps Commander, and all ranks paid homage to all four martyrs on behalf of the nation. Representatives from other security agencies also joined in paying their last respects to the martyrs.

Late Major Vibhuti Shankar Dhoundiyal, Havildar Sheo Ram, Sepoy Hari Singh & Sepoy Ajay Kumar sustained bullet injuries during the fierce operation in Pinglana village of Pulwama district. They were provided immediate first aid and evacuated to 92 Base Hospital but could not be saved.

Late Major Vibhuti Shankar Dhoundiyal, 33, had joined the Army in 2011. He was from Dangwal village in Dehradun, Uttrakhand, and is survived by his wife.

Late Havildar Sheo Ram, 36, had joined the Army in 2000 and hailed from Jhunjhunu ,Rajasthan. He is survived by his wife and a son. Coming from Rajgarh village of Rewari district in Haryana, Late Sepoy Hari Singh was 26 years old and had joined the Army in 2011. He is survived by his wife and a son.  Late Sepoy Ajay Kumar hailed from Bastikri village in Meerut, Uttar Pradesh. The soldier was 27 years of age and had joined the Army in 2012. He is survived by his wife and a son.

The mortal remains of the martyrs were flown for last rites to their native places where they would be laid to rest with full military honours.

Meanwhile, the Jammu & Kashmir Police paid tribute to head constable Abdul Rashid at District Police Lines in Srinagar where a wreath laying ceremony was held. Abdul Rashid was the Personal Security Officer (PSO) of DIG Amit Kumar who sustained injuries in the Pulwama encounter.

Wreath laying ceremony for our colleague HC Ab Rashid who was martyred today at #Pulwama was held at DPL #Srinagar. Officers led by @KVijayKumarIPS laid floral wreaths on mortal remains and paid rich tributes to the martyr for supreme sacrifice in the line of duty. @JmuKmrPolice pic.twitter.com/SWEhPdU1yF

— Kashmir Zone Police (@KashmirPolice) February 18, 2019

Officers led by Adviser to Governor K Vijay Kumar laid wreaths on the mortal remains of the slain policeman who attained martyrdom in the line of duty.

Also present on the occasion were DGP Dilbag Singh, IGP (Operations) CRPF Zulfikar Hassan, IGP Kashmir SP Pani, and Srinagar DC Abid Rashid Shah.

Martyr Abdul Rashid is survived by his wife and two minor daughters, according to reports.