CRPF commandant Pramod Kumar's daughter salutes her father's coffin
Hundreds of people gathered outside the home of CRPF commandant Pramod Kumar were in tears as his seven-year-old daughter Aarna saluted her father's coffin, wrapped in the national flag.
The 44-year-old commanding officer of the 49th battalion of the CRPF or Central Reserve Police Force, was killed in a terrorist attack in Kashmir on Monday, about an hour after he had raised the national flag at an Independence Day function in Srinagar. Last rites were performed this evening in Mihijam Palbagan, his hometown on the Bengal Jharkhand border.
In photos from the Independence Day event on Monday, the officer is seen saluting the national flag. He then addressed his men in a moving speech. 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.
"Leading from the front, he along with his men succeeded in eliminating two militants before he was hit on the upper neck," the CRPF said in a statement. The officer was brought to Srinagar's Base Hospital in a coma and died soon after.
CRPF commandant Pramod Kumar was killed in a terrorist attack in Kashmir on Monday
Nine other security personnel were injured in the gun battle, which lasted four hours.
Early on Tuesday morning, his body was brought home by a special aircraft. Jharkhand's top police officers, local people and relatives visited his home to pay tributes before last rites were performed. Pramod Kumar is survived by his wife, Neha, daughter and his parents and four sisters.
Commandant Kumar had been promoted as CO of his battalion only last month, a day before his daughter turned seven. He could not come home for the birthday, but sent presents.
The decorated officer had been serving in Srinagar since 2014 and was expecting to be posted out soon.
The CRPF has described him as an officer with high operational acumen, and an "empathetic leader to his men."