Missing soldier declared martyr after 12 years

NASHIK, DEC 30: A soldier missing in an avalanche during a conflict on the Siachen border 12 years ago was declared a martyr and posthumou...

NASHIK, DEC 30: A soldier missing in an avalanche during a conflict on the Siachen border 12 years ago was declared a martyr and posthumously awarded the Sena Medal. The parents of Balu Nanaji Pagare from Tilwani village near Kopargaon who were still hoping that their missing son might come back one day, were visited by army officials earlier this week.

They told the parents that their son had been declared a martyr and that he had been posthumously awarded the Sena Medal. Balu had joined the army in 1981. He had received training in Sagar (Madhya Pradesh) and posted in Andaman and Nocobar islands. He was subsequently posted in Jammu and Kashmir.

During `Operation Meghdoot’ along the Siachen border in May 1988 he and five others were ascending a peak when a bombshell fired from across the border triggered off an avalanche. Balu had reached the top and was helping others to climb up a ropeline. The avalanche swept off all of them into the deep valley. Efforts to trace them were fruitless and they were declared missing.

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For 12 years his parents nursed a hope that one day he would return safely. At a function organised in the village, his father Nanaji and mother Chandrabhaga were handed over the Sena Medal in appreciation of his services to the nation. Army officials who spoke on the occasion pointed out that Balu could have saved his own life by cutting the rope but he hung on to save the lives of others and chose to be dragged to death.

The villagers announced that a memorial would be erected in his honour in the village. Balu has two brothers, one serving in the All India Radio and the other, a farmer.

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