Just before he ended his speech, Kumar, in a video of the event, is seen looking at his watch as he said “it is an important day”, unaware of the fate that awaited him. The officer who joined the paramilitary in 1998 also read out the names of those personnel of the force who were awarded gallantry medals on the eve of the Independence Day and congratulated them.
Soon after, officials said, the wireless set in the CRPF control room crackled informing it about militants hurling grenades and firing on security forces at four places in downtown Srinagar like Nowhatta Chowk, Gojwara Chowk, Bata Gali and Khaniyar Chowk, as they sought reinforcements.
Kumar, along with a small team of his personal security team, dashed out in a bullet proof vehicle and soon after landed at the incident spot.
“The militants were still firing. Kumar led from the front and was shot grievously on the upper part of his neck,” they said.