New Delhi. 15 August 2016. CRPF Commanding Officer Promod Kumar was martyred today fighting terrorists valiantly in Srinagar.

The 28 Bn CRPF deployed for Law and Order duties in connection with Independence Day Celebrations at Nowhatta Chowk, Srinagar came under attack by militants who hurled grenades and fired with automatic weapons at Nowhatta Chowk, Gojwara Chowk, Bata Gali and Khaniyar Chowk, which was retaliated by the troops. On receipt of information about the attack Sh. Pramod Kumar, Comdt. 49 Bn rushed to the incident site and took over charge of the situation.

Leading from the front, he along with his men succeeded in eliminating two militants before he was hit on the upper neck. He was immediately evacuated to 92 Base Hospital, Srinagar where he was brought in a state of coma. He shortly succumbed to his injuries. Other personnel including eight CRPF men and one Jammu Kashmir Police personnel also sustained bullet/splinter injuries during the encounter who have been also admitted to 92 Base Hospital.

A Directly Appointed Officer, Pramod Kumar joined CRPF on 01/01/1998. Hailing originally from Village Bakhtiyarpur in Patna, Bihar he was presently residing in Jamtara District in Jharkhand. He was posted in Srinagar, Jammu & Kashmir w.e.f April, 2014 and was promoted to the rank of Commandant on 12 July, 2016. Currently he was performing duties of Staff Officer to DIG (North) SNR since April, 2014 and was expecting his posting shortly.

Known among his colleague as a gallant officer with a very amiable nature, he also came across as a empathetic leader to his men. He has served in Srinagar, 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 has been awarded the DG’s Commendation Certificate in 2011 and 2014. He remained on deputation with elite Special Protection Group w.e.f. 2011 to 2013.

He is survived by his wife Neha Tripathi, a 7 year old daughter Aarna and a 63 year old father. The mortal remains of the brave martyr are being transported by a special aircraft from Srinagar to Jamtara in Jharkhand, where his last rites would be performed tomorrow in village Mihijam.