Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar was among hundreds of people who converged on a small village in Satara, Maharashtra, as the mortal remains of Colonel Santosh Mahadik were consigned to flames with full military honours
The 39-year-old martyr laid down his life battling militants near LoC in north Kashmir’s Kupwara district. He is survivied by wife and two children, who were present during the cremation
An officer from the elite 21 Para-Special Forces unit, Col Mahadik was awarded a Sena Medal for gallantry during Operation Rhino in the North-East in 2003