Heera Kumar Jha, Deputy Commandant of the 7th battalion of the Central Reserve Police Forces (CRPF), who was killed in a Maoist attack in Jamui on Friday, was laid to rest with full State honours at his home town Dhanbad on Saturday.
Hundreds of people from all walks of life, including Dhanbad MP P N Singh, Chief Secretary Sajal Chakraverty, DGP Rajiv Kumar, IG laxman Singh, IG (operations) M l Meena visited his Gandhinagar residence to pay homage to the officer, who lost his life during a Naxal encounter near lakhari village under Bihar's Jamui district.
Jha is survived by his wife Bindu Jha and two children - daughter Kriti (12) and son Dhruv (9). Originally belonging to Saharsa district in Bihar, he had been transferred from Delhi to Jharkhand in 2012 and presently posted in Giridih district. Working on a tip-off about the presence of rebels in the lakhari forest, Jha along with his team had rushed to the forest where armed rebels ambushed the police team. In a gun-fire exchange a bullet hit Jha on the head and he died on
Rebels had gathered in the forest to celebrate the ongoing 'martyr week'. Taking advantage of the dense forest cover and heavy downpour rebels managed to flee. later, police arrested seven persons, including a woman,Reena Koda, who is said to be the wife of CPI (Maoist) zonal commander Siddhu Koda. Interrogations are on, said an official.
Several leaders, government officers and other prominent personalities were present during Jha's last rite. Meanwhile, Khunti police on Saturday morning arrested area commander of the People's libration Front of India (PlFI), Shankar Gope, from Balo under Murhu police station. The arrest was made following an intelligence input and is a part of ongoing operation against PlFI members in Khunti.
Gope is termed as a prized catch for the Khunti police. The dreaded extremist has been active in Murhu before shifting base to Hutaar in Gumla district. Besides, he is also said to be responsible for closure several schools in Khunti district.He is a significant catch for us. He is a named accused in about 22 cases," said Khunti SP Anis Gupta.
The dreaded extremist has been involved in torching several vehicles during recently called bandh and is also said to be responsible for closure of several schools. The PlFI area commander had reportedly asked school teachers to vacate the area leading to suspension of classes in primary, middle and high schools in remote areas of Khunti. The arrest came after the State launched an offensive in the wake of closure of schools in the district which is a stronghold of PlFI.Khunti police had taken a few people in custody on Thursday during the anti-PlFI drive. However, according to sources, they were released subsequently.
Dhanbad-1 : Chief Secretary Sajal Chakraverty and police officials paying last respects to the slain CRPF Deputy Commandant Hira Kumar Jha at Dhanbad in Jharkhand on Saturday. Jha was killed in a gun battle with Maoists at lakhari village in Jamui district of Bihar on Friday.