Ahmednagar martyr first from village to get promoted as JCO

PUNE: Indian Army’s naib subedar Sunil Ravsaheb Valte (40), who was martyred near the Line of Control in the Nowshera sector of Rajouri in Jammu & Kashmir on Tuesday, was the first soldier from Dahigaon village in Ahmednagar district to get promoted as a junior commissioned officer (JCO).
“The Indian Army had to resort to a heavy retaliatory firing on witnessing a suspicious movement that was supported by the Pakistani army firing from their post on Tuesday.Valte was injured in this action and later succumbed to his wounds,” a statement released by the Defence PRO read.
Valte left behind by his parents, wife, son (6) and daughter (14). A solemn wreath laying ceremony was organized in Jammu to pay tributes to the martyr naib subedar, Valte, “who made the supreme sacrifice for the motherland while fighting the enemy”, defence spokesperson, Jammu, Lt Col Devender Anand said on Wednesday evening. Valte’s mortal remains would be taken to Delhi in a service aircraft and further to Pune by civil airlines. From Pune, it would be taken by road to Dahigaon for the last rites on Thursday.
Valte was recruited into the Maratha Light Infantry (MLI) regiment. He later joined its 24th battalion. He was posted with the National Cadet Corps battalion as an instructor at Amalner in Jalgaon district, before getting promoted as a JCO eight months ago. “Valte was involved in sports and had played basketball tournaments in the force at the division level. He had also participated in the Republic Day parade,” an Army officer told TOI.
Childhood friend Vikas Mulekar, who retired from MLI two months ago, said, “We had together joined the private military academy at Kopargao. He had cleared physical and written examinations in the first attempt and joined the regiment in 1998.”
He said, “I spoke to him last over phone in August when he was in Jammu. He had told me that he would not to be able to speak again because of security reason. He was a brave, motivated and sincere soldier.”
Indian Army’s subedar Balasaheb Pralhad Palaskar was killed when the vehicle he was travelling in fell in a valley at Leh Ladakh on October 21. The last rites were performed with military honour at his native village Deulgaonraje in Daund tehsil. The JCO is survived by his parents, wife and two sons.
(With inputs from Jammu)