CRPF Constable Kamlesh Kumari, the only woman Ashok Chakra awardee, laid down her life defending the Parliament House on December 13, 2001
CRPF Constable Kamlesh Kumari, the only woman Ashok Chakra awardee, laid down her life defending the Parliament House on December 13, 2001
She wasn't armed to fight anyone, least of all terrorists on a suicide mission. But that didn't deter Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) Constable Kamlesh Kumari from doing her duty.
The only woman Ashok Chakra awardee (posthumously) of the country, Constable Kamlesh Kumari from 88 (Mahila) Battalion of the CRPF was posted at Iron Gate No 1, just next to Building Gate No 11, which is the main entrance for VVIPs coming to Parliament, on December 13, 2001. Her job was to assist the Parliament House Watch & Ward staff in frisking and checking visitors. "At Parliament, Mahila constables don't carry arms and ammunition," said a senior CRPF official, requesting anonymity.u00a0
On December 13, at around 11.40 am, Kamlesh heard gunshots and grenade blasts. She was carrying only her wireless set and along with every one present at the spot, she ducked for safety. But even though bullets were being fired from every direction, her mind was more than alert. "She was the first to notice the suicide bomber. In fact every one got so busy after the first bullet was fired that no body noticed that a human bomb was moving under the cover of fire towards the Building Gate No 11," said the senior officer.
Kamlesh was able to monitor the militants from inside her picket. She immediately informed the Duty Officer (DO) and the Guard Commander on their wireless sets about the human bomb. But by then the militants were dangerously close to Gate No 11. Kamlesh noticed a couple of CRPF men engaging the militants. Not thinking about her safety, she ran out of her picket to shout at Constable Sukhwinder Singh who had managed to stall the militants'u00a0 movement. "Her shout alerted the securitymen about the bomber. But she was unarmed and in the open and her cries were heard by the militants too. Even before any one could respond, Kamlesh collapsed as terrorists' bullets hit her stomach," recalled Sukhwinder Singh, who was awarded the Shaura Chakra for the same operation.
Singh immediately shot dead the suicide bomber whose body exploded after hitting the ground. "But a big tragedy was averted due to the alertness of a brave lady," said the CRPF officer.
Kamlesh was born on 1969 and joined CRPF in 1994. She was a native of Sikandarpur in Uttar Pradesh. Her husband ran a small business in his village.
