On 20 October 2018, Constable Umesh M. Helavar of the 143rd Battalion of the Central Reserve Police Force was returning from government duty in a vehicle travelling from the Group Centre at Imphal. The journey took place in a region affected by insurgency, where personnel remained vulnerable to sudden attacks.
At approximately 5:45 p.m., as the vehicle passed through the Nagamapal area under Imphal Police Station, an unidentified assailant threw a grenade into it from behind and fled. The grenade landed inside the moving vehicle, placing the personnel and people nearby in immediate danger.
Helavar picked up the grenade and attempted to throw it into a safe area away from local residents. It exploded in his hand, and he sustained critical injuries in the blast. His action was an attempt to move the explosive away from civilians and reduce the danger to those around him.
He was rushed for medical assistance but succumbed to his injuries while being taken to the Regional Institute of Medical Sciences in Imphal. Umesh M. Helavar made the supreme sacrifice in the line of duty on 20 October 2018. His final act remains a solemn example of courage and concern for the safety of others.
