Army pays tribute to Colonel Santosh Mahadik who was killed in an encounter with terrorists in north Kashmir
Srinagar:
The Army is today honouring Colonel Santosh Mahadik
who was killed on Tuesday in a fierce gunbattle with terrorists in the
forests of Kupwara in north Kashmir.
The 38-year-old Colonel of the Army's elite Para Commando force was the Commanding Officer of 41 Rashtriya Rifles. He was leading his troops in the encounter against four terrorists when he was shot and wounded. He died in hospital.
For the last one week, the Colonel and his troops had launched a cordon and search operation in Manigah forest area. Three days ago, two soldiers were injured in a gunfight but the terrorists managed to escape. That morning, as they zeroed in on the cordon, they came under heavy firing. Three soldiers and a Jammu and Kashmir police personnel were also injured in the gunfight.
Colonel Mahadik was from Maharashtra and is survived by his wife and two children, 11 and five years of age. The Army said the Colonel had conducted many successful counter-terrorist operations and had earlier been awarded the Sena medal for gallantry.
"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," Lieutenant General DS Hooda, Army Commander, Northern Command said.
Colonel Mahadik was the second senior officer killed while fighting terrorists in Kashmir.
Colonel MM Rai, commanding officer of 42 Rashtriya Rifles, was killed in January in an encounter with terrorists in south Kashmir's Tral area.
The 38-year-old Colonel of the Army's elite Para Commando force was the Commanding Officer of 41 Rashtriya Rifles. He was leading his troops in the encounter against four terrorists when he was shot and wounded. He died in hospital.
For the last one week, the Colonel and his troops had launched a cordon and search operation in Manigah forest area. Three days ago, two soldiers were injured in a gunfight but the terrorists managed to escape. That morning, as they zeroed in on the cordon, they came under heavy firing. Three soldiers and a Jammu and Kashmir police personnel were also injured in the gunfight.
Colonel Mahadik was from Maharashtra and is survived by his wife and two children, 11 and five years of age. The Army said the Colonel had conducted many successful counter-terrorist operations and had earlier been awarded the Sena medal for gallantry.
"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," Lieutenant General DS Hooda, Army Commander, Northern Command said.
Colonel Mahadik was the second senior officer killed while fighting terrorists in Kashmir.
Colonel MM Rai, commanding officer of 42 Rashtriya Rifles, was killed in January in an encounter with terrorists in south Kashmir's Tral area.
Story First Published: November 18, 2015 09:29 IST
