The 34-yr-old was among two soldiers who got injured fighting militants in Kupwara on Saturday
A brave soldier from Maharashtra has made the country proud by fighting gallantly against the highly motivated foreign militants before laying down his life for the motherland in the border district of Kupwara in North Kashmir.
Naik Gawade Pandurang Mahadev of 41 Rashtriya Riffles (RR) was among two soldiers who were injured when they took on a group of highly trained militants at Chak Drugmulla village on Saturday. Naik Gawade, however, lost his life in the hospital on Sunday morning.
Naik Gawade was leading the army column that killed five militants in the operation that lasted for more than nine hours. Hailing from Amboli Village of Sindhudurg district in Maharashtra, the 34-year-old was enrolled in The Maratha Light Infantry on September 21, 2001.
For the last one year he was operating in 41 RR and had participated in numerous anti-militancy operations in the higher and treacherous areas of Kupwara district.
"Naik Gawade was critically injured in a fierce encounter with five heavily armed terrorists on May 21 and attained martyrdom today. The brave soldier was part of the column which initially located and engaged with the terrorists, leading to successful elimination of all five terrorists," said Colonel SD Goswami, defence spokesman at Northern Command Headquarters.
Naik Gawade's superiors describe him a brave, agile and battle-hardened soldier who would volunteer for daredevil missions against the militants in the valley. On Saturday, he did what he knew the best to take on the highly entrenched militants.
"Using his battle craft and field craft, Naik Gawade closed in to the location and kept directing the rest of teams to bring down effective fire from the ultras. While closing in, he was hit by splinters and sustained injuries on head and face after which he was evacuated to 168 Military Hospital and subsequently to 92 Base Hospital, Srinagar where he succumbed to his injuries," said a senior officer of 41 RR.
A technically sound soldier, Naik Gawade, had developed multiple combat and computer skills in his 15 years of service. Besides being a good hockey player, he was adept in handling sniper rifle and all types of communication equipment.
Survived by wife Pranjal and two sons, Prajwal and Vedant, Naik Gawade had returned from leave and rejoined the unit on February 25 after welcoming the new member of his family. "The nation owes deep gratitude to the ultimate sacrifice made by soldiers like him in the fight against terror. We are committed to provide all necessary support to his family in this hour of grief," said Lieutenant General DS Hooda, general officer commanding in chief Northern Command.
Naik Gawade is the third soldier from Maharashtra who died fighting militants in Kashmir since November last. On November 17, 2015 Colonel Santosh Mahadik — a highly decorated para-commando of Satara Maharashtra who was commanding officer of the 41 RR — died fighting militants at Manigah forest area.
Naik Shinde Shankar Chandrabhan of Bayale Village in Nashik district of Maharashtra was killed while fighting highly trained militants in Zoonreshi village of Chowkibal on February 13. All soldiers belonged to 41 RR which is spearheading the anti militancy operations in higher reaches of Kupwara.
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