They left us. 40 of them. Uninformed & Unexpected. It will take time to sink in. It will take time to make sense. It will haunt us forever. It should. Khaki has been stained. Stained with Scarlet Red Blood. ‘Considerable Cleansing’ it will take.
The blood was not spilled during the pitched battle. Neither was this a guerrilla attack. If savagery and despondency have an instance to define, it is this.
The ghastly monstrous blast in Valley has sent strong emotional tremors across the dimensions of the Republic of India. Venturing into the unchartered territory, raw nerve of the entire nation has been touched and shaken.
Many of them have lost their Life Partner. Many of them their Father. Many their Son. A lot many their Brother. Some families their only Breadwinner. CRPF lost Lion Hearts and the Nation it’s True Patriots.
Thousands have joined the final journey of Martyrs at their respective natives. Scenes are heart wrenching. It is stirring beyond words.
One of these audacious bravehearts, Head Constable Vijay Soreng was from the soil of Jharkhand. Having joined CRPF in1993, he served with distinction in various parts of the Country. He also had an outstanding tenure in Jharkhand from 2008 till 2018, before getting transferred to J&K. Gathered to pay homage in gigantic numbers, Capital City of Jharkhand waited with moist eyes, heavy heart and thundering clouds, when his Mortal Remains landed, collective conscience of not only Ranchi, but the entire State transformed into reverence.
Last respects were paid during Wreath Laying Ceremony by Governor, Chief Minister, Cabinet Ministers of the State, MoS Civil Aviation (GOI), several MPs & MLAs, Ex-Ministers, Mayor, DGP with top State Police Officers, Officials from Army, BSF, CISF, SSB, ITBP and other State dignitaries along with sea of enormous crowd.
Locals in his native Pharsama village of Gumla district also gathered in mammoth numbers to pay heartwarming adieu to one of their own making supreme sacrifice for the nation. Last Rites were conducted there with full State Honors in the presence of Speaker, Jharkhand Assembly, MoS Tribal Affairs (GOI), Ex-Ministers and Officials of District Administration and Police.
As if tears were not enough, Rain Gods also poured in to pay the tribute. Having an illustrious history of 80 Years, sacrifices of CRPF have become immortal in the service of Mother India. With more than two thousand martyrs, blood has been shed repeatedly to safeguard pride and honour of the Nation.
CRPF has confronted numerous challenges with aplomb and this has been one of the major ones. I don’t know much about Phoenix but we will rise again to glory. We know how to combat the storm. Such has been the esteemed commitment and devotion that the buddy soldiers of these martyrs were immediately back on duty, protecting the very same area where this havoc was unleashed.
Thinking of the departed souls, lyrics of CRPF Song are echoing in my senses. Loudly and Proudly. Desh ke hum rakshak (We are protectors of the country) Jaan bhi de den beshak (Of course will sacrifice our lives)…Desh ki raksha me (In the service of the nation)…
The writer is Inspector General of Central Reserve Police Force, Jharkhand Sector and the views expressed in the article are his own.