Slain army officer Santosh Mahadik's friends send 300 kg sweets on Diwali to his unit

MUMBAI: Classmates of Colonel Santosh Mahadik have sent 300 kg of sweets to soldiers in his unit. Colonel Mahadik, an Army officer from Maharashtra, was killed in action near the Line of Control in Kashmir's Kupwara district. The sweets were delivered to the 41 Rashtriya Rifles unit, which he once commanded.

The initiative was organized by Colonel Mahadik's classmates, who are also alumni of Sainik School, Satara in Maharashtra. One of the classmates involved stated, "Like we do every Diwali, we also thought of his comrades in arms, who suffer harsh climes and the enemy from across the border. We thought this would be a nice gesture for soldiers, who spend Diwali away from their families."

Colonel Mahadik died in November 2015 after being critically injured during an operation in the Haji Naka forest area of Kupwara. He was known for his exceptional skills as a football goalkeeper, horse-rider, and boxer. His leadership in challenging terrains was highly respected among his peers.

The sweets were transported from Chandigarh to Srinagar airport by an Air Force aircraft. This gesture is part of an initiative called ' Operation Diwali ' by his classmates, who include both serving and retired officers of the armed forces. The sweets will be distributed to soldiers at border posts.

Colonel Mahadik had been awarded the Sena Medal for gallantry in 2003 during Operation Rhino in the North-East. The delivery of sweets to his unit is meant to honor his memory and support the soldiers who continue to serve in difficult conditions.