Kamlesh Kumari

Kamlesh Kumari

Police career

Allegiance  India
Years of service 1994–2001

Kamlesh Kumari was a recipient of Ashoka Chakra Award, India's highest peacetime award. She was a constable of CRPF (Central Reserve Police Force) who died defending the Parliament of India from terrorist attack on 13 December 2001.[1]

Career

Constable Kamlesh Kumari joined the force in 1994 and was first posted with the elite 104 Rapid Action Force (RAF) in Allahabad. Soon after, she was posted at the 88 Mahila Battalion on July 12, 2001. She became part of the Bravo Company, which is deployed in Parliament when in session.

13 December 2001

Kamlesh Kumari was posted at Iron Gate No. 1 next to the Building Gate No. 11 of the Parliament House.[1] She saw the ambassador brand car bearing the license number plate DL 3C J 1527 heading from Vijay Chowk towards the gate. Kamlesh was the first security person to walk up to the car. Kamlesh, realising something was amiss, ran towards the gate to shut it. The terrorists, their cover blown, opened fire. Eleven bullets struck Kamlesh in the stomach and she fell. It was 11:50 in the morning.

Kamlesh's alertness prevented a suicide bomber among the terrorists from executing his plan; the closing of Gate No. 1 and the alarm raised gave time for other security personnel to take positions and shoot the would-be bomber.

Family

Kamlesh's family consists of two daughters, Jyoti and Shweta, and her husband Avdesh.They hail from the village Sikandpur in Kannauj in Uttar Pradesh. The family stayed earlier in Vikaspuri, Delhi.

Award

Kamlesh was posthumously awarded the nation's highest peacetime award, the Ashoka Chakra Award, by the President of India on Republic Day in 2002 for her bravery and courage.[1] Prime Minister A.B. Vajapeyee also paid tribute to her.

Mohammad Afzal who was convicted of being part of conspiracy in the attack was sentenced to death by Supreme Court of India. Terrorist's family had camped in New Delhi to meet the then President Dr. A.P.J Abdul Kalam to accept his mercy petition. Kamlesh's family has said that they will return the Ashok Chakra awarded to her, if The President accepts the petition. As the president neither rejected nor accepted the petition. The families of eight parliament attack heroes (including Kamlesh's) returned the gallantry medals on December 13, 2006 to protest against delay in the execution of Mohammad Afzal.[2]

Current president Pranab Mukherjee refused clemency petition in early 2013 and Mohammad Afzal was hanged on February 9, 2013 at Tihar Jail around 8.00 am IST. On March 30, 2013 the martyrs' families took back the gallantry medals which they had returned in 2006.[3]

See also

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Dutta, Anshuman G (11 August 2009). "Armed only with a wireless set, she rushed in to face terrorists". Mid Day. Retrieved 24 February 2013.
  2. ↑ http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/6175291.stm
  3. ↑ http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/kin-of-parliament-attack-martyrs-take-bravery-medals-back/1/259994.html

External links