One who bowed to no one

HYDERABAD: “Bhagat Singh ki laash awaaz de rahi hai ki desh ke naujawano, desh ki durdasha pe tum shaant kyun ho?” (Bhagat Singh is asking youth of the nation why are they silent at the deteriorating situation in the country). These few lines from a poem written by Narendra Kumar, the young IPS officer who was mowed down by the mining mafia in Madhya Pradesh, clearly gives an insight into his personality of not remaining silent if one comes across wrongdoing.Narendra Kumar, who underwent training at the Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patel National Police Academy in Hyderabad, used to write intensely on contemporary issues and happenings within the country. His batchmates remember him enacting dramas on stage and one who would never bow down before anyone. His close friend and batchmate, Ambar Kishore Jha, shocked at the turn of events, said that the entire police force is proud of him. “We were very close as we shared a common interest in poetry. Narendra wrote several inspiring poems. Today, I sat alone throughout the day recalling the great time we had over the last few years,” an upset Jha, who is presently posted as ASP of Utnoor in Adilabad district told Express. During their training at the police academy, both spent several hours discussing poetry. “I used to stay in room no. 217 and Narendra was in room no. 235 which was on the same floor. Both of us struck instant rapport because of the intense poetry written by Narendra,’’ Jha recalls.Before Madhya Pradesh, Narendra Kumar was allotted to the Bihar cadre but later on changed his cadre as he got married to Madhurani Tewati, an IAS officer of MP cadre.“In Bihar, Narendra was posted in Darbhanga and then in Purnia district, which is close to my native place. There, Narendra caught a dreaded criminal who had a reward of Rs5 lakh on his head. We were sure he would receive a gallantry award for his job and he eventually did. When it came to work, he was strict and we are proud of him,’’ Jha said, almost in tears. Recalling his association with Narendra, another batchmate Bhaskar Bhushan, an IPS officer presently posted as ASP, Kothagudem in Khammam district, said that Narendra’s sense of humour, his acting skills on stage was what made him a cut above the rest,’’  said Bhushan. A condolence meeting was organised at the Police Academy here on Friday for Narendra Kumar.