Rajnath Singh pained over killing of CRPF CO; orders shifting of injured
New Delhi: Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Monday voiced deep pain over the death of a CRPF commanding officer in attack by militants in Jammu and Kashmir and ordered shifting the injured to Delhi by air ambulance for treatment.
"CRPF commanding officer Promod Kumar fought valiantly when attacked by terrorists in Srinagar today. I am deeply pained at his death," he said in a statement.
Saluting the CRPF officer for his valour and supreme sacrifice, the Home Minister said Kumar served the nation till his last breath.
"I offer my heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family," he said.
The Home Minister also asked Director General of CRPF K Durga Prasad to evacuate those injured in the incident by air ambulance to Delhi for better treatment.
"I also pray for the speedy recovery of the injured CRPF jawans," he said.
As the nation was celebrating its 70th Independence Day, militants attacked security personnel at Nowhatta in downtown Srinagar, killing the CRPF officer and injuring nine other personnel. Two militants were also killed in retaliatory fire.
Promod Kumar, who originally hailed from Bakhtiyarpur in Bihar, had joined CRPF in 1998.
Kumar was posted to Srinagar in April, 2014 and was promoted to the rank of Commandant recently, the CRPF said in a release.
Known among his colleagues as a gallant officer, he was amiable and an empathetic leader to his men.
Kumar had served in Kashmir, Tripura, Assam, Jammu, Bihar, Jharkhand and Andhra Pradesh.
An officer with high operational acumen, he was awarded the DG?s Commendation Disc in 2015 and the DG’s Commendation Certificate in 2011 and 2014.
He was on deputation to the elite Special Protection Group between 2011 and 2013.
Kumar is survived by his wife Neha, seven year old daughter, Aarna, and 63 year old father.
The mortal remains of the officer is being transported by a special aircraft from Srinagar to Jamtara in Jharkhand, where his family has settled now, for the last rites which would be performed tomorrow, the release said.
