15 August 2016 | A Braveheart of 49 Battalion, CRPF
On 15 August 2016, while India celebrated its Independence Day, Commandant Pramod Kumar of the 49th Battalion, Central Reserve Police Force, made the supreme sacrifice while leading his men during a terrorist attack at Nowhatta Chowk in Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir.
Earlier that morning, CRPF personnel deployed for Independence Day security duties came under attack in Srinagar's old city. Terrorists positioned inside an abandoned building opened fire and hurled grenades at security personnel in the Nowhatta area. The troops retaliated, and an intense encounter followed.
On receiving information about the attack, Commandant Pramod Kumar rushed to the scene and took charge of the situation. He led his men from the front, confronting the attackers and helping his personnel respond to the threat. During the encounter, two terrorists were neutralised before he sustained a gunshot wound to the upper neck.
He was evacuated to the 92 Base Hospital in Srinagar in a critical condition. Despite medical efforts, he succumbed to his injuries. Other CRPF and Jammu and Kashmir Police personnel were also injured in the encounter.
Born on 15 August 1972, Pramod Kumar joined the CRPF on 1 January 1998. He hailed from Bakhtiyarpur in Patna district, Bihar, and was residing in Jamtara district, Jharkhand, at the time of his martyrdom. During his service, he served in several parts of the country, including Jammu and Kashmir, Tripura, Assam, Bihar, Jharkhand and Andhra Pradesh.
He had also served on deputation with the Special Protection Group between 2011 and 2013. Promoted to Commandant on 12 July 2016, he was serving as Staff Officer to the Deputy Inspector General, North Srinagar, at the time of the attack.
For his exceptional gallantry, leadership and devotion to duty during the Nowhatta encounter, Commandant Pramod Kumar was posthumously awarded the Kirti Chakra, one of India's highest peacetime gallantry awards. The honour recognised his courage in leading the response to the attack despite grave danger.
He was survived by his wife, Neha Tripathi, his daughter, Aarna, and his father. His supreme sacrifice on Independence Day remains a reminder of the personnel who continue to protect the nation while others celebrate its freedom.
Commandant Pramod Kumar demonstrated the meaning of leadership under fire. By rushing to the scene, taking charge and leading from the front, he upheld the finest traditions of the Central Reserve Police Force.
Commandant Pramod Kumar, The Honour Post pays tribute to your leadership, courage, service and supreme sacrifice.
