PUNE: A 40-year-old Junior Commissioned Officer (JCO) of Indian Army from Ahmednagar district was martyred during heavy shelling by Pakistani troops near the Line of Control (LOC) in Nowshera sector of Jammu and Kashmir on Tuesday.

The deceased soldier, Naib Subedar Sunil Raosaheb Valte, hailed from Dahigaon village in Kopargaon taluka of Ahmednagar district. He is survived by his wife Mangala, a son, a daughter and parents.

Valte had joined the army in 1999 as a sepoy. He served with the Maratha Light Infantry. 

According to officials, a suspicious movement was observed in the hours of darkness near the LOC. “This movement was also supported by Pakistan Army firing from their post. Indian Army immediately retaliated with a heavy volume of fire. In the ensuing exchange of fire, the JCO was critically injured and later succumbed to his injuries. The firing continued after the incident inflicting substantial damages to Pakistan Army,” the Army stated in a press release. 

The mortal remains were taken in a helicopter from Rajouri to Jammu. Brig Vikrant Kulkarni, Officiating Station Commander of Jammu, Brig AS Berar, Group Capt Sandeep Sharma, Col Sandeep Sharma and several other army officials laid wreaths in Jammu on Wednesday. 

The mortal remains were taken from Jammu to Delhi in a service aircraft and will be further brought to Pune by civil airlines, a defence spokesperson said.

The mortal remains will be taken by road from Pune to his village in Ahmednagar district to perform last rites.

“Naib Subedar Valte was a brave, highly motivated and sincere soldier. The nation will always remain indebted to him for the supreme sacrifice and devotion to duty,” the release further stated.