In a deeply moving moment that captured the human cost of India’s fight against left-wing extremism, a seven-year-old boy saluted his father during a wreath-laying ceremony at the Gadchiroli police headquarters on Friday.
Adwai Madavi stood with quiet resolve as he paid his final respects to his father, Deepak Madavi, a C-60 commando who was killed in close combat with guerrillas in Abujmarh. The child’s salute, offered amid overwhelming grief, left many in attendance visibly emotional.
A brave life cut short
Deepak Madavi, 38, was a resident of Damrancha village in Aheri taluka and served as a commando with the elite C-60 anti-Naxal unit of the Maharashtra Police. He was killed during an operation in the dense forests of Abujmarh, a region known for fierce encounters between security forces and armed insurgents.
Colleagues described Deepak as disciplined, courageous and deeply committed to duty. Officials at the ceremony hailed him as a warrior who laid down his life for the nation.
A family’s silent struggle
Deepak was the sole breadwinner of his family. He is survived by his wife Shalini, son Adwai, mother Ratnibai, three sisters and two younger brothers. Sources said no other family member is currently employed, making the loss not only emotional but also economically devastating for the household.
As the tricolour-draped coffin was honoured, the presence of the young boy underscored the sacrifices borne by families of security personnel far from the battlefield.
A symbol beyond words
An official present at the ceremony said Adwai’s salute had become a powerful reminder of the unseen suffering behind every martyrdom. “It symbolised the price paid by families in the nation’s long battle against Naxalism,” the official said.
As tributes poured in from fellow officers, local residents and senior officials, the ceremony served as both a farewell to a fallen commando and a solemn reminder of the courage — and cost — carried by those who serve