Mumbai: A pall of gloom descended on the Sheetal Nagar area of Mira Road as locals learned that their beloved real-life hero, Major Kaustabh Prakash Kumar Rane, was among the four brave hearts who attained martyrdom in a fierce gunfight while trying to prevent militants from infiltrating Gurez sector of north Kashmir’s Bandi-pora district on Tuesday.

Natives of Sadure village in Vaibhavwadi taluka of Sindhudurg district, the Rane family had been staying in the Hiral Sagar building since 1990. Known as an intelligent and well-mannered boy since his childhood days, Kaustabh was determined to serve the country as defence personnel. He joined the Indian Army as Lieutenant in 2011; and was promoted to “Captain” that same year; followed by an elevation to “Major” in 2018. He was first posted at Kupwara and Kolkata and then at Gurez sector since January 2017.

Major Kaustabh Rane is survived by his wife Kanika, sister Kashyapi, two-year-old son Agastya, and parents Prakash and Jyoti Rane. Prakash Rane retired as an officer from a private firm while Jyoti Rane is a retired school teacher.

Kaustabh’s uncle Pratap Rane said, “Since his posting in the sensitive sector along the Line of Control (LoC), he was rarely able to call us. We knew about the level of risk in such a region but we didn’t expect something like this. We are proud of Kaustabh.”

Kaustabh’s friend Rajesh Parab said, “Whenever Kaustabh used to be here, he always registered his active presence on our social group. It is a proud moment for us combined with the immense grief that we will never see him again.”

Fate had other plans

After Major Kaustabh Rane was conferred the Gallantry Medal by the President of India on the occasion of the 69th Republic Day this year, the general body of the Mira-Bhayandar Municipal Corporation unanimously had passed a resolution to felicitate the brave heart upon his arrival in the twin-city.