Panaji, Feb 26 – Goa paid heartfelt tributes on Wednesday to Kirti Chakra awardee Lieutenant Narendra Mayekar, marking 25 years since he made the ultimate sacrifice while fighting ULFA militants in Assam. Representatives from the armed forces, ex-servicemen, and locals gathered to honor the braveheart from Vasco.
To commemorate his legacy, a memorial dedicated to Lt. Mayekar will soon be constructed in Vasco’s Sada area, announced Mormugao MLA Sankalp Amonkar. "We are proud that such a courageous soldier hailed from our city. It is a matter of immense honor for us," Amonkar stated.
Lt. Mayekar, serving with the 11th Sikh Regiment, was martyred on February 26, 2000, during an operation against ULFA insurgents. His mother, Bhagirathi Atmaram Mayekar, in her 70s, recalled the family's irreplaceable loss. "He was the eldest among his siblings and had always aspired to join the defense forces. When he saw the recruitment advertisement, he applied and was selected," she shared.
His wife, Neha, recounted their last moments together in Assam, just three months before his passing. "Our daughter was small and could not adjust to the weather conditions there, so we returned to Goa. And then, the tragic news came," she said.
Lt. Mayekar’s daughter, Nidhi, was only two years old at the time of his death. "For a long time, my family did not tell me about it. I always believed he was away on duty. It was only when my schoolteacher spoke of him in the past tense that I realized he was no longer with us," she shared.
On that fateful day in 2000, acting on specific intelligence, Lt. Mayekar led a search operation in an Assam village suspected of harboring ULFA militants. As he approached a house, he was fired upon and sustained an abdominal gunshot wound. Displaying exceptional courage, he stormed the house alongside his regiment, engaging the militants in close combat, killing two.
His fearless leadership inspired his unit, leading to the elimination of three more hardcore ULFA operatives and the recovery of arms, ammunition, and crucial documents. Despite his injuries, Lt. Mayekar refused evacuation until the mission was completed, ultimately succumbing to his wounds.
Awarded the Kirti Chakra posthumously, Lt. Mayekar's indomitable spirit remains a source of inspiration. As Goa prepares to build a memorial in his honor, his sacrifice continues to be etched in the hearts of the people.