21-Gun Salute for Martyred Colonel Santosh - Colonel Santosh Mahadik, marty- Navbharat Times Photodhamal

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Colonel Santosh Mahadik, martyred in a gunbattle with militants in Jammu and Kashmir's Kupwara district on Tuesday, was honoured by the Army at a ceremony in Srinagar on Wednesday morning. The 38-year-old was the second Army commanding officer to die in a terrorist encounter this year.

In This Pic : 21-Gun Salute for Martyred Colonel Santosh

Pic Courtesy : PTI

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As an officer of the elite 21 Para-Special Forces unit, Col Mahadik led many "successful operations" against militants and their hideouts in Jammu and Kashmir and in the northeast for over a decade.

In This Pic : 21-Gun Salute for Martyred Colonel Santosh

Pic Courtesy : PTI

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Awarded a Sena Medal for gallantry during Operation Rhino in the north-east in 2003, he did not want to rest on his laurels even after becoming a Colonel. He volunteered to command a battalion of the Rashtriya Rifles, the Army's specialised counter-insurgency force in J&K. On Tuesday , Col Mahadik was leading his troops from 41 RR in a chase against heavily-armed terrorists, who had infiltrated across the LoC.

In This Pic : 21-Gun Salute for Martyred Colonel Santosh

Pic Courtesy : PTI

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In January, Colonel Munindra Rai of Gorkha Rifles died in Jammu and Kashmir's Tral in a similar operation. "Over the last two days, as many as three `contacts' had been established with this group of terrorists in the inhospitable terrain... but they managed to evade," said a senior officer.

In This Pic : 21-Gun Salute for Martyred Colonel Santosh

Pic Courtesy : BCCL

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At around 2pm on Tuesday, Col Mahadik and his troops were again combing the area when the terrorists opened heavy fire, and then fled deeper into the forest. "Col Mahadik was hit on the head... he was evacuated to the Durgmulla military hospital but succumbed despite medical intervention. Two other security personnel were injured. The operation is still continuing," said the officer.

In This Pic : 21-Gun Salute for Martyred Colonel Santosh

Pic Courtesy : BCCL