Former Indian Army Officer Colonel Kale Killed in Gaza Attack; Last Rites to be Held in Pune
Former Indian Army Officer Colonel Kale Killed in Gaza Attack; Last Rites to be Held in Pune
Colonel Waibhav Anil Kale (retd) was recently employed by the UN in the Gaza region.
15th May 2024
By Payoshi Bisht
In a tragic turn of events, Colonel Waibhav Anil Kale (retd), a former Indian Army officer recently employed as a security service coordinator with the United Nations, lost his life in an attack while enroute to a hospital in the Rafah region of Gaza, Palestine. He succumbed to his gunshot wounds.
According to his family members, Colonel Kale, aged 46, had only begun his role with the UN three weeks prior to the incident. After his retirement, he was based in Pune with his family. He is survived by his wife Amrita, son Vedant and daughter Radhika. His body is expected to be flown in via Cairo, with his last rites scheduled to take place in Pune after a 48-hour period.
Colonel Kale’s brother-in-law, Wing Commander (Retd) Prasant Karde, revealed that the attack occurred while Kale was travelling in a vehicle displaying the United Nations flag. Another officer accompanying him sustained critical injuries and is currently receiving medical treatment.
Kale was born in Nagpur and completed his education at Somalwar High School. After retiring, he decided to join the United Nations to further his career and engage in humanitarian missions. During his military tenure spanning over two decades in northeast India, Kale served in various capacities, including participation in the UN peacekeeping mission in the Congo from 2009-10.
Colonel Kale has been described as a dedicated officer. He commanded 11 JK Rifles in Kashmir, served as an instructor at the Army Infantry School in Mhow, and was also involved in counterintelligence and counterterrorism operations. His LinkedIn profile reflects his extensive experience in security risk management and highlights his involvement in significant initiatives, including presentations to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and coordinating security during the visit of US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.
