Thousands with moist eyes bid last farewell here today to CRPF commando of 209 Cobra battalion Ajay Kumar (30) who died on Monday fighting Maoists at Budha Pahar in Garhwa district of Jharkhand.
He was cremated with full state honours in his native village here at Nawanpind Tapparian.
Ajay's younger brother Sanjeev Kumar Laddi lit the pyre amidst slogans of 'Shaheed Ajay Kumar amar rahey'.
The martyr is survived by a three-year-old daughter, a three-month-old son, wife, father, three sisters and a younger brother.
Nawanshahr Deputy Commissioner Vipul Ujwal, CRPF DIG (Jalandhar) DL Gola, Deputy Commandant of 209 Cobra battalion of CRPF Avigyan Kumar, SP Harinder Pal Singh, SDM Balachaur Jagjit Singh, DSP Balachaur Rajpal Singh Hundal were among those who placed wreaths on the body of the martyr.
A contingent of CRPF jawans paid their tributes by reversing their arms and firing gunshots in the air.
Earlier, hundreds of residents including schoolkids in Nawanshahr and Balachaur lined up on the roads as Ajay's body was brought from Amritsar by CRPF jawans.
Ajay's proud father Sohan Lal, a retired Deputy Commandant
of BSF, though teary-eyed, was heard saying, "After serving the country myself for 38 years in BSF and losing my elder son in its service, I am still ready to send my younger son to save the country's borders."
"Ajay, who joined CRPF in 2010, always wanted to join the security forces as he was greatly influenced by tales of their heroism that I used to narrate to them at family get-togethers," he revealed.
As per a communique received from 209 Cobra battalion of CRPF, Ajay single-handedly fought the Maoists who were firing from a light machine gun (LMG) from behind a big boulder and stopping the advancement of troops for flanking and encircling them.
To overcome the challenge, Ajay's team launched an attack from the front with him moving ahead in the line of fire.
He took position behind a rock and kept the Maoists engaged for over 40 minutes before being hit by a bullet.
While DC Vipul Ujwal assured the martyr's family of all the support and help from the district administration, CRPF DIG DL Gola said Ajay's name would be recommended for a bravery award for showing exemplary courage while fighting the insurgents.
