Pall of gloom descends on martyr's native village in Allahabad

ALLAHABAD: A pall of gloom descended on the native village of CRPF (Central Reserve Police Force) 118 Bn jawan who was killed in one the deadliest terror attack in Jammu & Kashmir when a Jaish suicide bomber rammed a vehicle carrying huge explosives into their bus in Pulwama district on Thursday.

The family members of the 26-year-old martyr Mahesh Kumar were inconsolable. Several people from Tudihar and adjoining village here reached the martyr’s house on Friday morning and tried to console his widow, mother and sister.

The couple, who got married about seven years back, had two children named as Samar (6) and Sahil (5).

The martyr’s neighbours described him as a 'hero' who always had a smile on his face.

Sushil Kumar, uncle of the martyr, told TOI, "The entire village is proud of Mahesh Kumar as he has laid down his life in the service of the nation."

He further added,"Mahesh had come to house on a three-day leave and left the house on Monday assuring that he would be joining them soon."

Kumar further added, "Mahesh wanted to join armed forces since his childhood after completing his BA, he joined the paramilitary force in 2017. Martyr Mahesh had got his first posting at Kashmir.

Ironically, when the news Mahesh's death in the attack reached his family members late on Thursday night, the martyr’s younger brother Amresh had taken his grandfather Tej Pratap alias Magru to Mumbai for treatment.

Moreover, the martyr’s father Raj Kumar yadav, who runs an auto rickshaw, was also in Mumbai.

Sadly, both the martyr’s sons - Samar and Sahil were not aware as what had actually happened to their father. Six- year-old Samar and Sahil, standing near a cot outside their house said “We have not gone to school today."

Students of nursery at Maharshi Vidhya Niketan, Meja, the kids were surprised to see heavy crowd assembled outside their house.

Since late Thursday night, villagers have started gathering at the house of the martyr and were trying to console the family members.

Prem Chandra Yadav, who taught the martyr at Shri Ram Kishore Inter College, Kutwa said, “Mahesh had been the student of college from class VIth to XIIth”. He added “Martyr Mahesh Kumar wanted to do something for country as well as his family.”

The villagers, who usually call him by his nickname Sonu, said, "It's sad to see that the road leading to the martyr’s house is in shambles and we want to get the road constructed from the state government at the earliest.” They also demanded union government to give befitting reply to the terrorist groups targeting our soldiers.

Vandana, the lone sister of the martyr who studies in Class 12, and mother Shantidevi were also inconsolable.