BELAGAVI
Lance Naik Pandurang Mahadev Gawade had laid down his life fighting terrorists in Kupwara Sector during a successful anti-terrorist operation by the Indian army, where five terrorists were killed.The mortal remains of the brave martyr that had arrived in Goa on Monday were kept at the Army Hospital in Panaji and then taken to Amboli on Tuesday morning. The funeral services were held at Amboli, the martyr s village about 75 kms from Belagavi on the Belagavi-Vengurla state highway. The army vehicle from Goa carrying the mortal remains of the martyr reached Amboli at about 10 am amid slogans and tears from the villagers. The villagers who were waiting for the mortal remains of their hero for three days welcomed by chanting Shahid Pandurang Gawade Amar Rahe , as tears rolled down every eye that gathered there eagerly.A procession was carried out from the Amboli police outpost to the funeral venue, covering about 2 kms. Together with the officials and political leaders, the tourists visiting the hill too took part in the procession.Packed with tourists in May, the entire village wore a deserted look, as everyone had gathered at the funeral venue. The army officials from Belagavi s Maratha Light Infantry Regimental Centre (MLIRC) under the leadership of Brig Praveen Shinde, the commanding officer of the MLIRC, was camping in Amboli since Monday evening.Brigadier Shinde, who visited the house of the martyr, assured Gawade s wife Pranjal and family members that apart from other support from the Indian Army, the MLIRC would take care of his two sons and support them in securing them jobs. Army personnel gave a befitting 21 guns salute after which five-year-old son Vedant lit the pyre.District In-charge Minister Deepak Kesarkar along with local MP Raut, collector Anil Bhandari, ZP CEO Shekhar Sinha and senior police officials were present.Earlier on Monday, the Indian Army paid a befitting tribute with full military honours to its valiant soldier Pandurang Gawade. Homage was paid to the valour and sacrifice of the late soldier in a solemn ceremony at Badami Bagh Cantonment, Srinagar. He was part of the column which initially located and engaged the terrorists hiding in a cluster of houses.Chinar Corps Commander Lt Gen Satish Dua and all ranks of Chinar Corps laid wreath to salute the soldier in his last journey. The mortal remains were later taken to Goa by air on Monday at 9.30 pm and kept at the Military Hospital, Panaji, before it was moved to Amboli on Tuesday morning.
