Major Kaustubh Prakash Rane, a resident of Thane's Mira road, sacrificed his life while fighting for his motherland at the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir on Tuesday.
29-year-old Rane was among four of the Indian Army soldiers who were martyred in a fierce battle with terrorists in north Kashimir's Gurez sector of Bandipora district on August 7.
The family of Rane was residing in Thane's Mira road for over 30 years. Major Prakash was fondly referred to as "Rane Kaka" by the residents of the area. Every person living in the locality is shocked to hear that their beloved "hero" is no longer alive.
Kaustubh Prakash Rane was interested in joining Army since his childhood. He did his schooling from Mira Road’s Holy Cross Convent High School and graduated from Shailendra College in Dahisar.
After clearing the combined defence service examinations, he was commissioned as an officer from the Chennai-based Officer’s Training Academy (OTA) in 2011, after which he joined the Indian Army as a lieutenant the same year.
Major Kaustubh Prakash Rane, who belonged to the Army's 36 Rashtriya Rifles, had completed six years in the job and was promoted to Major in January this year.
He is survived by his wife Kanika and two-and-a-half year old son.
Major Kaustubh Prakash Rane's last rites will be performed on Thursday, 9 August 2018.