Shaurya Chakra for Major who sacrificed his life to save others

PUNE: Major Kunal Gosavi was awarded

Shaurya Chakra

(posthumously) -the peacetime gallantry award equivalent of Vir Chakra -on the eve of Independence Day for saving the life of a pregnant army officer and soldiers when their residence was under terrorist attack on November 29, 2016 at Nagrota in Jammu & Kashmir. Major Gosavi was a resident of Pandharpur in Maharashtra, located about 210km from here. He is survived by his wife

Uma

and a five-year-old daughter.

Uma told TOI over phone from Pandharpur, “It's a proud feeling for us because his bravery has been recognized by the supreme commander of the armed forces today (on Monday).“

She got a call from the army authorities in the afternoon.

Major Gosavi, Uma said, had opted for this (Nagrota) posting by choice as he wanted to serve in Jammu & Kashmir.

“Gosavi had served in Mani pur for two years (2013-14). He had got a peace posting but he did not consider it. He wanted to join either Rashtriya Rifles unit or National Security Guard (NSG). He had also started physical training. But his seniors persuaded him to change the decision, considering the risk attached to it,“ Uma said, adding that he was awarded Commendation Card for his excellent role in Manipur.

Recalling the fateful day , Uma said, “We had reached Nagrota on November 27, 2016.In the early hours of November 29, Kunal received a call from his unit informing about the terrorist attack in the military camp. He had kept his bulletproof jacket at home (post-Uri terrorist attack). He went to the spot in his car. By the time he and his troops reached to the site, the firing had stopped. They immediately went to one of the buildings and rescued the injured soldiers, including a pregnant woman officer.“

While cordoning off the area, he came under heavy firing and was hit by a bullet. “He succumbed to injuries in the ambulance on the way to hospital,“ she added.

Sena Medals for 2

The Sena Medal was conferred on two soldiers from the state. Naik Rajendra Narayan Tupare from Kolhapur, killed in Operation Rakshak on November 6 last year in Jammu and Kashmir, was awarded Sena Medal for gallantry. Lance Naik Sagar Ashok Saikhede, currently serving in the army, was also awarded a Sena Medal.