Srinagar: The Indian Army, today, is honouring Colonel Santosh Mahadik who succumbed to bullet wounds received during a fierce gunbattle with terrorists in the forests of Kupwara in north Kashmir.

The 38-year Colonel was the Commanding Officer of 41 Rashtriya Rifles and was spearheading his troops in the encounter against four terrorists.

For the last one week, Colonel Santosh Mahadik and his troops had launched a cordon and search drive in Manigah forest area.

On Sunday, Mahadik's troops came under heavy firing from the terrorists. The clash left three soldiers and a Jammu and Kashmir policeman injured. However, the terrorists managed to flee.

Colonel Mahadik, a Sena medal for gallantry winner, is survived by his wife and two children, 11 and five years of age.

His stint in the Indian Army boasts of many successful counter-terrorist raids.

"We owe a deep debt of gratitude to officers like Santosh who lead from the front and are willing to pay the ultimate price in the fight against terrorism," Lieutenant General DS Hooda, Army Commander, Northern Command said.

The death of such swashbuckling Indian hero emphasises the need to draw global attention to the fact that Pakistan is constantly instigating separatist outfits to take up arms and unleash terror in the valley. Pakistan has repeatedly denied allegations of fuelling militancy in the region. However, the cross-border infiltration rate has escalated and Pakistan has failed (deliberately) to curb trespassing from their side of the border.

Moreover, Nawaz Sharif's recent statement on providing moral support to separatist outfits in Jammu & Kashmir speaks volume of the country's double standard foreign policy.

(Picture Courtesy: www.ndtv.com)