Kamlesh Kumari
Encyclopedia
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.
(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.
Kamlesh, realising something was amiss, ran towards the gate to shut it. The terrorists, their cover blown, opened fire. Eleven bullets from the guns caught Kamlesh in her stomach and she fell. It was 11.50 in the morning.
Kamlesh's alertness prevented a human bomb 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 position and shoot the bomber.
in Uttar Pradesh
.The family was earlier staying in Vikaspuri, Delhi
.
on Republic Day
in 2002 for her bravery and courage. Prime Minister A.B. Vajapeyee also paid tribute to her.
The terrorist Mohammad Afzal
who is convicted of being part of conspiracy in the attack is now sentenced to death by Indian court. He was to be hanged on 20 October but the sentence has been stayed. His family had camped in New Delhi to meet the then President Dr. A.P.J Abdul Kalam to accept the mercy petition. Also the family of Kamlesh Kumari has said that they will return the Ashok Chakra awarded to her, if the president accepts the petition, but it is unclear if it had been done so. On 13 December 2006, the families of the deceased returned the medals to the government. As of April 2007, the then President of India, A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, refused to interfere in the judicial process.
Ashoka Chakra Award
The Ashok Chakra is an Indian military decoration awarded for valor, courageous action or self-sacrifice away from the battlefield. It is the peace time equivalent of the Param Vir Chakra, and is awarded for the "most conspicuous bravery or some daring or pre-eminent valour or self-sacrifice" other...
, India's highest peacetime award. She was a constable of CRPF (Central Reserve Police Force) who died defending the parliament of India
Parliament of India
The Parliament of India is the supreme legislative body in India. Founded in 1919, the Parliament alone possesses legislative supremacy and thereby ultimate power over all political bodies in India. The Parliament of India comprises the President and the two Houses, Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha...
from terrorist attack on 13 December 2001.
Career
Constable Kamlesh Kumari joined the force in 1994 and was first posted with the elite 104 Rapid Action ForceRapid Action Force
The Rapid Action Force is a specialised wing of the Indian CRPF . It was established on 11 December 1991 and became fully operational in October 1992, to deal with riots & related unrest...
(RAF) in Allahabad
Allahabad
Allahabad , or Settled by God in Persian, is a major city of India and is one of the main holy cities of Hinduism. It was renamed by the Mughals from the ancient name of Prayaga , and is by some accounts the second-oldest city in India. It is located in the north Indian state of Uttar Pradesh,...
. 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 near the X-ray machine at Gate No. 12 of the Parliament House. 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, laden with a deadly cargo and driven by men with the agenda of spreading terror and mayhem.Kamlesh, realising something was amiss, ran towards the gate to shut it. The terrorists, their cover blown, opened fire. Eleven bullets from the guns caught Kamlesh in her stomach and she fell. It was 11.50 in the morning.
Kamlesh's alertness prevented a human bomb 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 position and shoot the bomber.
Family
She is survived by Avdesh, her husband, and their daughters Jyoti and Shweta. They hail from the village Sikandarpur in KannaujKannauj
Kannauj , also spelt Kanauj, is a city, administrative headquarters and a municipal board or Nagar Palika Parishad in Kannauj district in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. The city's name is traditionally derived from the term Kanyakubja . Kannauj is an ancient city, in earlier times the capital...
in Uttar Pradesh
Uttar Pradesh
Uttar Pradesh abbreviation U.P. , is a state located in the northern part of India. With a population of over 200 million people, it is India's most populous state, as well as the world's most populous sub-national entity...
.The family was earlier staying in Vikaspuri, Delhi
Delhi
Delhi , officially National Capital Territory of Delhi , is the largest metropolis by area and the second-largest by population in India, next to Mumbai. It is the eighth largest metropolis in the world by population with 16,753,265 inhabitants in the Territory at the 2011 Census...
.
Award
Kamlesh was posthumously awarded the nation's highest peacetime award, the Ashoka Chakra Award, by the President of IndiaPresident of India
The President of India is the head of state and first citizen of India, as well as the Supreme Commander of the Indian Armed Forces. President of India is also the formal head of all the three branches of Indian Democracy - Legislature, Executive and Judiciary...
on Republic Day
Republic Day
Republic Day is the name of a holiday in several countries to commemorate the day when they became republics.-1 January in the Republic of Slovakia:This was the day of creation of the Republic of Slovakia. A national holiday since 1993...
in 2002 for her bravery and courage. Prime Minister A.B. Vajapeyee also paid tribute to her.
The terrorist Mohammad Afzal
Mohammad Afzal
Mohammad Afzal, also known as Afzal Guru, is a Kashmiri who was convicted of conspiracy in the December 2001 attack on the Indian Parliament and was sentenced to death by the Supreme Court of India in 2004. The sentence was scheduled to be carried out on 20 October 2006...
who is convicted of being part of conspiracy in the attack is now sentenced to death by Indian court. He was to be hanged on 20 October but the sentence has been stayed. His family had camped in New Delhi to meet the then President Dr. A.P.J Abdul Kalam to accept the mercy petition. Also the family of Kamlesh Kumari has said that they will return the Ashok Chakra awarded to her, if the president accepts the petition, but it is unclear if it had been done so. On 13 December 2006, the families of the deceased returned the medals to the government. As of April 2007, the then President of India, A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, refused to interfere in the judicial process.