Friends of Colonel Santosh Mahadik who became a martyr on Tuesday recalled him as a passionate and dedicated boy. The CO of 41 Rashtriya Rifles, Col. Mahadik, was also the best boxer of his alma mater Satara Sainik School and goal keeper of the school’s state champion football team.
According to Colonel Mahadik’s school mates, his father would call him “Santoo”. Revisiting a memory of class 11, a friend said, “He defeated me in boxing and when I congratulated him in front of his father, his father said, “This is not my son’s great fight. His real fight will be on the borders protecting this nation and my son will always be victorious.”
True to his father’s word, Col Mahadik, on Tuesday afternoon, attained martyrdom after leading his troops in a fierce encounter with a group of three terrorists in Manigah Forest Area of Kupwara district.
Lt Gen Nimbhorkar said, “We are proud of him and he is the pride of the nation and Satara Sainik School.” In his official statement, Lt Gen D.S. Hooda, Army Commander, Northern Command expressed deep condolences on the loss of this brave Commanding Officer and said, “We owe a deep debt of gratitude to officers like Mr Mahadik who lead from the front and are willing to pay the ultimate price in the fight against terrorism.”
Col Mahadik has left behind his wife and two children aged eleven and five years.
