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Major Kaustubh Rane’s body reaches Mumbai, last rites on Thursday
Thane/Mumbai, Aug 8 (IANS) The mortal remains of Major Kaustubh P. Rane — who was among the four Army personnel killed in a gun battle with terrorists near the Line of Control at Bandipura in Jammu & Kashmir on Tuesday — reached Mumbai late on Wednesday evening, officials said.
The coffin, draped in the national tricolor, was solemnly received by Rane’s grieving family members, Army and civilian officials.
The body will be taken to his hometown Mira Road in adjacent Thane district. The last rites will be performed on Thursday with full military honours.
At the airport, family members, various Army units, Maharashtra and Mumbai police and state government officials offered wreaths and paid homage to the departed soldier.
Since Tuesday, Mira Road township has been in mourning over the death of their hero, who lived over 25 years in Sheetal Nagar area, barely 5 km north of Mumbai.
Rane, 29, is survived by his aged parents Prakash and Jyoti Rane, a sister Kashyapi, wife Kanika and a two-and-half-year old son Agastya.
Hailing from Sadure village in Vaibhavwadi talika of the coastal Sindhudurg district, the family was settled in Mira Road since several decades. His father had retired from a private company, while his mother is a former Assistant Headmistress of Utkarsh Mandir High School in Malad here.
Major Rane was educated at the Holy Cross Convent High School here and then the Royal College nearby, before graduating from Shailendra College at Dahisar in western suburbs of Mumbai.
The only son of his parents, Rane fulfilled his childhood dreams of joing the armed forces by completing his military training from Pune, and was later commissioned as an officer from the elite Officers Training Academy, Chennai in 2011.
Joining the Indian Army as a Lieutenant, he was later promoted to Captain rank and elevated as Major earlier this year with the 36 Rashtriya Rifles.
Since his posting in the sensitive Gurez sector last year, Major Rane would call up his family occasionally and inform them about his wellbeing, his uncle Pratap Rane told mediapersons.
Incidentally, Major had visited Mira Road in April this year for a brief period before returning to the front.
It was a proud moment for the family when earlier this year Major Rane was decorated with the Sena Gallantry Medal by President Ram Nath Kovind on the 69th Republic Day celebrations.
Relatives, friends and neighbours remember Major Rane as a soft-spoken, warm and well-behaved person with a helpful nature and taking part in local social-cultural activities.
–IANS
qn/nir
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Dr. Abhishek Verma Dedicates a Shelter in Memory of His Mother, Veena Verma, at KGMU; Inaugurated by Daughter Nicolle Verma
World-renowned business tycoon Dr. Abhishek Verma has supported Foodman Vishal Singh’s Hunger-Free World mission. In memory of his mother, Late Veena Verma, who was a 3 term Rajya Sabha MP.
Dr. Verma dedicated a state-of-the-art free permanent shelter for the attendants of patients at KGMU Medical University, Lucknow, under the aegis of Vijay Shree Foundation. His daughter, Nicolle Verma, inaugurated the shelter.
During the event, Foodman Vishal Singh honored Nicolle Verma by presenting her with a memento. Mrs. Nidhi Sharma and Avantika Yadav, associated with the organization, welcomed her with garlands. Following this, Nicolle Verma distributed essential items to the attendants and also handed out fruits. She became emotional remembering her grandmother on her birth anniversary.
On this occasion, she also inaugurated the “Veena Verma Sevalaya” in memory of her grandmother, Veena Verma, to serve the attendants. She expressed, “I feel proud that my family is engaged in nation-building as well as social service. Today, in collaboration with Vijay Shree Foundation founder Foodman Vishal Singh Ji, I feel immensely proud to dedicate this shelter for the poor, helpless, and needy attendants of patients battling serious illnesses like cancer. I am honored to be associated with the Hunger-Free World Mission for humanity.”
Inspired by the continuous humanitarian service provided by Vijay Shree Foundation over the past 17 years, Nicolle Verma donated 10 lakh rupees to support the cause. The purpose of this donation is to ensure that services continue for the needy attendants of patients suffering from severe illnesses in hospitals, as facilitated by Foodman Vishal Singh.
It is noteworthy that Dr. Abhishek Verma’s family has a legacy of public and philanthropic service. They are helping millions to carry forward the values and service work of their parents. On the occasion of his mother’s birth anniversary, Dr. Abhishek Verma dedicated this state-of-the-art permanent shelter at Lucknow Medical College to serve the attendants of patients through the Vijay Shree Foundation.
Supporting Foodman Vishal Singh’s Hunger-Free World mission, Dr. Abhishek Verma assured that he would continually support keeping this flame of humanity alive. He also promised to assist in providing medicines to the helpless patients.
Continuing her grandmother’s legacy of service, Nicolle Verma personally served food to the needy patients and attendants. She said, “It is our good fortune to have received the joy of doing this noble work today through Foodman Vishal Singh. I have taken another step forward in carrying my family’s values and cooperation by joining hands with the Vijay Shree Foundation. My father taught me to serve and help the needy, and I feel happy when I bring a smile to someone’s face.”
On the birth anniversary of the late Veena Verma, the event organizer, Vijay Shree Foundation founder Foodman Vishal Singh, said, “We feel proud and happy that Dr. Abhishek Verma, a globally renowned business tycoon, has extended his support to uplift our country from the hunger index. Today, on his mother’s birth anniversary, he inaugurated a state-of-the-art permanent shelter at Lucknow Medical College, which will always be helpful for the needy attendants of patients. It is a pleasure for me and the organization to receive the affection of Mr. Verma.”
The event was attended by General Manager Verma Family Office Hemant Garg, Sonu Rajput, and the organization’s volunteers, including Sandeep Singh, Parmeshwar Ji, Prashant Rao Gautam, Balram Singh, Ramesh Chaudhary, Suman, Jeetu, Anil, Suraj, Vinay, Manish Bhadauria, Manas Mehrotra, Vivek, Apurv, Happy, and others.