Satara: Last rites of Colonel Santosh Mahadik, who was martyred while serving as the Commanding Officer of 41 Rashtriya Rifles, was performed in Satara district of Maharashtra on Thursday. Along with others, Union Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar paid tribute to the 38-year-old officer who was killed while battling terrorists near Line of Control (LoC) in north Kashmir's Kupwara district.
Mahadik was critically injured during an operation in the Haji Naka forest area of Kupwara near the LoC along Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, officials said.
Though he was immediately rushed to a hospital, he succumbed to his injuries, the officials said.
Mahadik, who hailed from Maharashtra and was commissioned in the Army in 1998, originally joined the Special Forces, and had received Sena Medal for exhibiting gallantry and leadership in counter-terrorist operations, Defence spokesman said.
The operation to track down the terrorists was continuing when last reports were received, the officials said.
A party of Army and police had come under fire while conducting searches as part of an operation started on November 13. The operation was aimed at flushing out terrorists hiding in the forest area on basis of specific information.
Colonel Mahadik leaves behind wife and two children, aged 11 and five years, the defence spokesman said, adding that the Army was committed to providing all support to the family in the hour of grief.
The Army considers Colonel Mahadik a true soldier, who had conducted many successful counter-terrorist operations.
General Officer Commanding-in-Chief of Northern Command Lt Gen DS Hooda has expressed deep condolences on the loss of the Colonel.
"We owe a deep debt of gratitude to officers like Santosh who lead from the front and are willing to pay the ultimate price in the fight against terrorism," Lt Gen Hooda said.
(With additional information from PTI)
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