Last rites of martyred CRPF commandant Pramod Kumar held in Jamtara

The CRPF said when Commandant Kumar learned about the attack in downtown Srinagar’s Nowhatta Chowk, he rushed to the spot and took charge of operations.

In an incredibly emotional scene that moved scores of people to tears, the courageous 6-year old daughter of CRPF Commandant Pramod Kumar gave her father the final salute when his body was brought to his home town, Jamtara in Jharkhand on Tuesday.

Security forces immediately cordoned off the entire area and took on the holed up militants.

“Two of the militants have been gunned down and the other two are still firing from the house”, he added. The gunfight between the forces and militants is still going on. The attack came despite heightened security across Jammu and Kashmir ahead of Independence Day.

Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel paying tribute to Commandant Pramod Kumar, who was killed in a gun battle with Militants in Nouhatta district (Sri Nagar). “Both the militants seem to be non-locals, but we are trying to ascertain their identity”, he said. Kumar had suffered serious head injuries and doctors could not resuscitate him despite all efforts.

Meanwhile the situation remained under control in most parts of Kashmir valley today, police said.

“It is a very important day”, these were the last words of Pramod Kumar after he unfurled the tricolour at the forces’ base in Srinagar. Two AK-47 rifles and 8 magazines were recovered from them, he said.

He was posted in Srinagar in April 2014 and had been promoted to the rank of commandant just a month ago, on July 12, 2016. He is survived by his wife Neha Tripathi and 7-year-old daughter Aarna.

Early on Tuesday morning, his body was brought home by a special aircraft.