nPurnanand Sahu, the CRPF constable who died in an encounter with Naxals in Bijapur district on Monday, was to get married next month, Deputy Superintendent of Police SS Sharma said.
The family of Sahu was busy in making preparations for the impending marriage when they got shocking news of his death on Monday afternoon.
Sahu was among the two commandos of CoBRA’s 204th battalion who were killed in the gun-battle with ultras in Pamed area of Bijapur. A Naxal was also killed in the gunfight while six other CoBRA personnel, including an official, were injured.
Commando Battalion for Resolute Action (CoBRA) is an elite unit of the CRPF.
“Purnanand was with the family during the new year celebration. Then, he was very much excited about his marriage and its preparations. We had no idea that it would be his last visit to the village. We all are in shock,” his uncle Vedprakash Sahu said.
He had applied for leave for his wedding which was scheduled on March 27, he said.
Sahu, a native of Jangalpur village, located close to Rajnandgaon town of the state, had joined the CRPF in April, 2013. His first posting was in Jammu and Kashmir and recently, he was transferred to Bijapur, he said.
Sahu was the main bread earner of his family and taking care of the education of his four younger siblings, including two sisters, he said.
The jawan’s inconsolable father Lakshman Sahu said, “I always wished to join police but could not do so. Nobody in the family was aware of my son’s willingness to join the force until he was selected for the CRPF. That day I assumed that Purnanand was no longer only my son rather he has become the son of the country. I am proud of my son's martyrdom”.
A pall of gloom descended in Jangalpur village as the mortal remains of Sahu wrapped in National flag and laden with the flowers arrived there.