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Tuesday, Feb 19, 2008
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Slain policemen given tearful farewell

Staff Reporter

Schoolchildren turn up in large numbers to pay their last respects

Governor, Chief Minister pay their homage
Naveen Patnaik announces compassionate grant

—Photo: Lingaraj Panda

EMOTIONAL: The body of Susant Kumar Gouda, who was killed by Maoists, being taken in procession to his home in Berhampur on Monday.

BHUBANESWAR: The Orissa police were in tears when they gave an emotive send-off to one of their bravest colleagues on Monday as the massive combing operation launched against marauding Maoists turned out to be no less than a Kargil for them.

When the bodies of Pramod Kumar Satpathy, Assistant Commandant of Special Operation Group (SOG) and sepoy Satyananda Panda, who lost their lives fighting with left wing extremists, reached the campus of seventh battalion of Orissa State Armed Police (OSAP) here, colleagues, higher-ups and hundreds of people broke into tears.

It could be the first occasion when the slain police personnel were mourned publicly with hundreds of people and media teams following the last rites at different places. While 13 police personnel were killed in the attack on Friday night, three jawans laid down their lives in the combing operation against naxalites.

Governor Muralidhar Chandrakant Bhandare and Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik reached the venue to pay their homage to the departed policemen who were presented with guard of honours.

Before Mr. Patnaik moved to condole the grieving family members, the campus of the armed police was reverberated with ‘Assistant Commandant Satpathy Amar Rahe. SOG Jindabad.’ Schoolchildren lined up on both sides of the road to give last respect to the slain policemen.

Assistant Commandant Satpathy was instrumental in formation of the SOG, which was raised to combat naxalites. He was the first person to reach Nayagarh after Maoists’ mayhem on late night of Friday last.

Inconsolable

On getting information of hide-out of naxalites, Satpathy along with two SOG teams chased and continued firing about four hours for which the rebels could not be able to escape. It was the courageous fight for which a huge amount of arms and ammunitions were recovered from the ultras. Family members of the 43-year-old Satpathy, who hailed from Jajpur district and was son of a retired deputy commandant in Orissa police, were inconsolable. While three brothers, including him were serving for the State police, one brother is security officer of a private company. He is survived by wife and two children.

“My brother’s martyrdom stirred up the Orissa police to combat naxalites with renewed vigour. The deaths have not demoralised the police force rather we are committed to wipe out the rebels,” Nirmal Satpathy, brother of deceased policeman and also an Assistant Commandant with the State police said. What made the policemen more reactionary was the manner in which all their personnel were killed. Assistant Commandant Satpathy was even stabbed several times after his death and one of eyes was gouged out.Condoling the deaths of three personnel, Chief Minister announced compassionate grant of Rs. 5 lakh for Satpathy and Rs. 4 lakhs for jawans in addition to an ex gratia of Rs. 10 lakhs.

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