`He always chose the toughest posts'

`He always chose the toughest posts'
EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE

SRINAGAR, MARCH 14: As the Marathas bid adieu to their young martyr with tearful eyes in Uri sector on Monday, it was a goodbye to a friend and colleague, who had kept the honour of the uniform, an end to a story of great valour.

In life Captain Omkar Nath Rao had made his battalion proud by volunteeringto the most difficult assignments, in death too he kept the prestige of hisunit. Captain Rao was killed in a fierce encounter with a group of militants and Pak regulars at the Line of Control in Uri on Sunday. However, before laying his life, he killed a militant and a Pak armyman. A civilian porter was also killed when the patrol led by Captain Rao came under fire near Dardkote forward post.

``He had just returned from Siachen. In fact we didn't even get time totalk. I thought now that he has come back to the unit we will have a good time again,' said Captain Rao's friend and colleague, Major A P Kumar. ``Perhaps I had forgotten the inevitable in a soldiers life''.

The only son of a retired Army officer, Col G V Rao, this 26-year-old captain hailing from Bangalore had just three and half years of service. Being from a fouji family, bravery was in his sweat and blood. Thus he volunteered to the most difficult postings and missions.

``He always wanted his father to feel proud about him,'' a colleague said.``In fact, the young officers belonging to Army families have always the penchant for sacrifice. They always want to keep the heads of their nears and dears high''.

Captain Rao had joined the unit in Uri sector on March 4 after serving for six months in Siachen glacer. "Officers get a peace posting after serving at the Siachen but this young captain preferred to join his parent unit,'' said Brigadier R K Sharma, remembering Rao as a brave young officer.

Major A P Kumar said Captain Rao was still going through the familiarisation process of the unit area. ``After joining on March 4, he was with us here in the unit headquarters getting to know the area. It was only on March 9 that he was sent to the forward post,'' he said.