In Pictures: Tearful Goodbye at Colonel Mahadik’s Cremation

Martyred Colonel Santosh Mahadik cremated with full military honours in Satara, Maharashtra.

Photo: Sitanshu Kar, Spokesperson, Ministry of Defence

Thousands of grieving people turned up on Thursday for the funeral of Colonel Santosh G Mahadik, who was killed while fearlessly leading his men in an operation against militants in Jammu and Kashmir on Tuesday.

The last rites ceremony for the Colonel was attended by Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar and top Army officers.

Col Mahadik was decorated with a Sena Medal and accorded a funeral with full military honours in an open ground in the Satara village.

Photo: Sitanshu Kar, Spokesperson, Ministry of Defence 

Rangoli on the road and large posters of Col Mahadik line the road in Satara. (Photo Courtesy: Twitter page of Lko BJP)

Who was Colonel Santosh Mahadik?

• Col Mahadik was the Commanding Officer of 41 Rashtriya Rifles.
  
• He was killed in a counter-infiltration operation in the Manigah forest of Kupwara.
  
• The son of a milkman in Maharashtra, Santosh Mahadik stepped away from the family trade to join the Army.
  
• A champion boxer, manic runner and football goalkeeper in his school days, he later trained ODI cricket captain MS Dhoni in paragliding.
  
• He had conducted several successful counter-terror operations.
  
• Col Mahadik is survived by his wife and two children.
  

Photo courtesy: Twitter page of CNN-IBN

Maharastra Chief Minister Devender Fadnavis paid homage to Colonel Santosh Mahadik in Pune. (Photo: Devender Fadnavis)

Photo: Twitter page of All India Radio

Photo: Twitter page of All India Radio