Assam CM Sonowal Hands Over Ex Gratia of Rs 20 Lakh to Kin of Jawan Martyred in Jharkhand

Sonitpur, June 6, 2019:

Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal has handed over Rs 20 lakh as an ex-gratia to the kin of martyr Niraj Chetri at his residence at Nepaligaon, Kawri Pathar in Assam’s Gohpur. Chetri, who was  was martyred in a gun battle with Naxals in Jharkhand.

This was also announced by the Assam Chief Minister via a tweet sent from his official Twitter handle. Sonowal tweeted: "The Govt of Assam stands resolute with the bereaved family members of the martyr in this hour of immense grief and loss. Expressed my heartfelt condolences and offered ex-gratia amount of Rs 20 lakh to his family."

In another tweet, Sonowal wrote: "SSB jawan Niraj Chetry showed exemplary courage and valour in the service of the nation. Met and interacted with the bereaved family members of the brave martyr at Kawri Pathar, Biswanath and offered my sincere condolences. His supreme sacrifice will never be forgotten.

Meanwhile, the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) senior officials handed over a sanction letter of Rs 15 lakh under the Central Welfare Scheme as an ex-gratia to the family.

Niraj Chetri had joined the SSB in 2014 and was a resident of Kaoripathar Karibil Nepali village in Gohpur in Assam’s Biswanath district.

Another SSB personnel Constable Rajesh Rai was also seriously injured in the attack and has been airlifted to Jharkhand capital Ranchi.

According to police sources, state security personnel and paramilitary forces launched a search operation based on intelligence inputs at Taldengara village.

The Maoists then attacked the security forces and started firing on them. The security forces also retaliated, and a gun battle took place.

Chetri lost his life and four others were injured, who were airlifted and brought to Ranchi for treatment. However, the Maoists managed to flee after the gun battle.

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