Comic book to boost CRPF personnel’s morale in Kashmir

The 2001 attack on the Srinagar airport is subject of the 10th illustrated comic book brought out by the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), aimed at boosting morale of the paramilitary forces in Jammu and Kashmir.

The multi-coloured comic book is one of 12 in the series titled ‘Shaurya Gaathas’ (Valour Stories) involving CRPF personnel. In the past four years, the force has reportedly lost around 150 personnel in militant attacks in the state. Written in colloquial Hindi, the stories draw heavily from regions the soldiers were a native of.

The comic, printed in Delhi, is to be launched by October or November this year. It will be followed by two other comic books— ‘Attack on Raghunath Temple’ and ‘Bravery of Khubi Ram’.

The comic on the airport attack shows the bravery of CRPF troops who repelled a sixmember Laskhar-e-Taiba suicide squad on January 16, 2001. A total of 11 people, including two civilians and three CRPF personnel, died in the terror attack. All the six militants were gunned down in the three-hour-long shootout.

Deputy commandant Rajiv Kumar said, “The heroic acts of our personnel will inspire those deputed in Jammu and Kashmir.” Kumar said months after taking office in 2014, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had suggested the idea of comic books on the CRPF men’s gallantry tales. So far, nine comics have been released.

He said, over 20,000 copies of each comic have been circulated among new recruits and allied organisations, and that these will soon be made available for the public as well.

“Funds generated from the sale of these comic books will be spent on the welfare of the families of martyrs,” the officer said.