The last rites of Indian Army Major Kaustubh P. Rane, who was among four killed in a gun battle with terrorists near the line of Control at Bandipura in Jammu & Kashmir on Tuesday, will be performed in his hometown of Mira Road in the adjoining Thane district on Thursday.
The mortal remains of Major Rane arrived in Mumbai late on Wednesday. The coffin, draped in the national tricolor was solemnly received by Rane’s grieving family members, army and civilian officials, at the city airport.
Major Rnae’s body was later taken to his home at Mira Road, where his last rites would be performed with full military honours on Thursday.
A pall gloom had descended on Mira Road, after the news of Major Rane’s reached his family members and people in the town.
Major Rane (29) is survived by his aged parents Prakash and Jyoti Rane, sister Kashyapi, wife Kanika and a two-and-half-year old son Agastya.
Hailing from Sadure village in Vaibhavwadi taluka of Sindhudurg district in coastal Konkan region, Ranes have been living in Mira Road since several decades.
His father Prakash had retired from a private company, while his mother retireda few years ago as an assistant headmistress of Utkarsh Mandir High School at Malad in north Mumbai
After his initial education at the Holy Cross Convent High School at Mira Road, Rane studied in the Royal College also at Mira road, before graduating from Shailendra College at Dahisar, a suburb of Mumbai.
After completing his military training from Pune, Rane was commissioned as an officer from the elite Officers Training Aademy, Chennai in 2011. Having joined the Indian Army as a lieutenant, Rane was later promoted as a captain and elevated as Major earlier this year, with the 36 Rashtriya Rifles.
“After his posting in the sensitive Gurez Sector last year, Major Rane would call up his family occasionally and inform us about his well-being.
Major Rane had visited his family Mira Road in April this year for a brief period before returning to the Gurez sector,” his uncle Pratap Rane said.
Major Rane was decorated with the Sena Gallantry Medal by President R. N. Kovind on the 69th Republic Day celebrations, earlier this year.
The relatives, friends and neighbours have fond memories of Major Rane, who was a soft-spoken, warm and well-mannered person with a helpful nature and would take part in socio-cultural activities.