Cop lays down life for civilians

“I am the only policeman and the rest four occupants of the jeep are civilians,” the khaki-clad Bardhan reportedly told the Maoists.

He also requested them not to harm the civilians after they were kidnapped on Thursday.

These words from Bardhan saved all the four persons who were travelling with him in the Bolero jeep.

“Sir (Bardhan) saved our lives when the Maoists asked us to follow them along with him.

“Had Ajit Sir kept quiet, we would have been killed too,” Ganesh, the jeep driver, said with tears in his eyes.

The Maoists allowed the civilians to go after a thorough check up inside the vehicle, he said in a choked voice.

Bardhan, after attending his court duty in a Bonai-based court, was returning to Koida from Rourkela along with four civilians, including the driver, when the Maoists attacked them.

Bardhan’s bullet strewn body was found on Friday near Jharbeda in Chandiposh-Chirubeda forest area.

His hands and legs were found tied and he was fired from a close range, police said. 

A Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) jawan Abdul Raffique also lost his life when the Maoists triggered landmine when he was out on a combing operation to rescue Bardhan on Friday.