India loses another hero in Col Santosh Mahadik; here is what you should know about him

On 17 November, 38-year-old Colonel Santosh Mahadik gave up his life for the motherland while fighting militants in Jammu & Kashmir. He was honored on 18 November at a ceremony in Srinagar.

Mahadik is one among several others who happily risk and sacrifice their lives to protect the country from any danger.

Here are some facts about this national hero:

• Col Mahadik was felicitated with a Sena medal in 2003 for his bravery during Operation Rhino in the north-east.

• A TOI reports that he led a number of successful operations in the north-east and J&K for more than a decade.

• He belongs to a small town Satara in Maharashtra. He completed his schooling from the Sainik school.

• Col Mahadik is survived by his 11-year-old daughter, five-year-old son and wife Shashwati.

• He had voluntarily decided to command a battalion of the Army's specialised counter-insurgency force Rashtriya Rifels in J&K.

• He died while hunting down armed terrorists who had infiltrated into the valley from LoC.