(Inset) Mhasivikho Kirha, 08/08/1986 – 19/11/2011.
Policemen accord Guard of Honour over the casket of the slain soldier during the memorial service at Chumukedima village, Dimapur on Sunday, November 20. (Sorei Mahong/Photo)
Policemen accord Guard of Honour over the casket of the slain soldier during the memorial service at Chumukedima village, Dimapur on Sunday, November 20. (Sorei Mahong/Photo)
DIMAPUR, NOVEMBER 20 (MExN): Slain Naga police jawan, Mhasivikho Kirha was laid to rest Sunday afternoon at Chumukedima village with all the honour deserving a soldier killed in battle. Twenty-five year-old Kirha is survived by his mother, who is bed-ridden, and five siblings – two brothers and three sisters. Son of late Eyosaho Kirha of Jakhama village, he spent much of his growing years in Chumukedima village before enlisting in the police. He succumbed to bullet wounds on November 19, sustained during a gun battle with Maoist guerillas at a place called Duarsini Forest falling under Purulia district, the westernmost region of West Bengal.
The mortal remains of the late jawan reached Dimapur Sunday morning by air from Kolkata accompanied by the Commandant of the 10th NAP (IR), Richard Yimto and late Kirha’s comrades from the unit; now stationed in West Bengal, tasked with anti-Maoists operations.
Director General of Police, K. Kire, IPS, speaking at the funeral described Kirha as one very dutiful and disciplined soldier during his short lived service of hardly three years as a policeman. Serving in an alien environment, in another state and sacrificing his life, “this is a thing of honour” indeed, said a solemn Kire. He further announced that the department has already sanctioned a cash relief of Rs. 2, 50, 000 to the family of the slain soldier. Relaying Home Minister, Imkong L. Imchen’s condolences and his inability to be in person at the funeral, Kire disclosed that the Home Minister also bestowed a sum of Rs. 50, 000 towards the family right after news reached here of the fateful incident on November 15. In addition to immediate monetary contribution, the DGP pledged that the family of Kirha will be afforded aid for the next 20 years through the ‘Police Welfare Scheme’.
Condolences also poured in from the rank and file of the state police, the late soldier’s comrades, the kith and kin and community organizations. Naik Tiachuba, Kirha’s comrade from the unit’s ‘F’ company, described him as a cheerful yet courageous young man. “He never failed a call of duty,” the Naik said of Kirha. Recounting the encounter with the Maoist guerillas, Tiachuba said the ‘A’ and ‘F’ companies of their unit were assigned to carry out a joint ‘combing operation’ with support from the COPRA unit of the West Bengal police in a thickly forested area called Dursini in the early morning hours of November 15.
During the search operation, their company was ambushed and fell under heavy fire from guerillas in hiding. Kirha and him were in direct line of fire from the hiding guerillas, Tiachuba said. They however managed to take cover and returned fire. In the ensuing exchange of fire, Kirha alongwith another of their comrade, havildar Kakito Sumi, who was also returning fire, were hit.
Fortunately for the sergeant, he survived his wounds while Kirha succumbed to his injuries at Apollo Hospital, Ranchi (under Jharkhand) four days later. An uncle of Kirha, who had gone to Ranchi after the incident, said that the Chief Minister of West Bengal and the Home Minister had personally visited and paid their respects to the death soldier at the Kolkata airport.
The mortal remains of the late jawan reached Dimapur Sunday morning by air from Kolkata accompanied by the Commandant of the 10th NAP (IR), Richard Yimto and late Kirha’s comrades from the unit; now stationed in West Bengal, tasked with anti-Maoists operations.
Director General of Police, K. Kire, IPS, speaking at the funeral described Kirha as one very dutiful and disciplined soldier during his short lived service of hardly three years as a policeman. Serving in an alien environment, in another state and sacrificing his life, “this is a thing of honour” indeed, said a solemn Kire. He further announced that the department has already sanctioned a cash relief of Rs. 2, 50, 000 to the family of the slain soldier. Relaying Home Minister, Imkong L. Imchen’s condolences and his inability to be in person at the funeral, Kire disclosed that the Home Minister also bestowed a sum of Rs. 50, 000 towards the family right after news reached here of the fateful incident on November 15. In addition to immediate monetary contribution, the DGP pledged that the family of Kirha will be afforded aid for the next 20 years through the ‘Police Welfare Scheme’.
Condolences also poured in from the rank and file of the state police, the late soldier’s comrades, the kith and kin and community organizations. Naik Tiachuba, Kirha’s comrade from the unit’s ‘F’ company, described him as a cheerful yet courageous young man. “He never failed a call of duty,” the Naik said of Kirha. Recounting the encounter with the Maoist guerillas, Tiachuba said the ‘A’ and ‘F’ companies of their unit were assigned to carry out a joint ‘combing operation’ with support from the COPRA unit of the West Bengal police in a thickly forested area called Dursini in the early morning hours of November 15.
During the search operation, their company was ambushed and fell under heavy fire from guerillas in hiding. Kirha and him were in direct line of fire from the hiding guerillas, Tiachuba said. They however managed to take cover and returned fire. In the ensuing exchange of fire, Kirha alongwith another of their comrade, havildar Kakito Sumi, who was also returning fire, were hit.
Fortunately for the sergeant, he survived his wounds while Kirha succumbed to his injuries at Apollo Hospital, Ranchi (under Jharkhand) four days later. An uncle of Kirha, who had gone to Ranchi after the incident, said that the Chief Minister of West Bengal and the Home Minister had personally visited and paid their respects to the death soldier at the Kolkata airport.
