Sasaram: A brutal terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, claimed the lives of 26 people, including Manish Ranjan, a resident of Bihar and an officer with the Intelligence Bureau (IB). He was reportedly in the valley on a family vacation when the attack occurred.
Manish, who had been serving as a Section Officer at the IB office in Hyderabad for the last two years, had initially joined government service as an excise inspector. However, family members clarified that his designation had not been updated in the official list, which still refers to him as an excise officer.
Final Journey and Last Rites
Manish’s body is being transported to Ranchi and will then be taken to Jhalda (Purulia) in West Bengal by 12 noon today, where the last rites will be performed. His father, Mangalesh Mishra, is a retired headmaster of a high school in Jhalda. The family has been living in the town for several years.
A Family Torn Apart by Terror
Recounting the harrowing moment, Manish’s uncle, Alok Priyadarshi, said, “Manish tried to protect his wife and children till the last moment. As soon as he heard gunfire, he told them to hide. Then the terrorists asked for his name and shot him.” His wife, Jaya, was in a state of shock and could barely speak after the incident.
Manish had taken his entire family to Kashmir for a trip. Army personnel are now escorting his family to safety under heavy security.
Scheduled to Visit Aurangabad for Family Wedding
A native of Aruhi village in Rohtas, Manish was scheduled to attend a relative’s wedding in Belai, Aurangabad on April 30. He was the eldest of three brothers. His brother Vineet is a product inspector in Jharkhand, while the youngest, Rahul, is a food inspector in Ambikapur.
“We were on our way to Vaishno Devi from Kashmir when we got the news of Manish’s death. We immediately turned back,” Vineet told reporters.
A Life of Service Cut Short
Manish, who received his primary education in Sasaram, joined the IB in Ranchi in 2008. He married in 2010 and is survived by his 12-year-old son and 8-year-old daughter. His ancestral home is in Gaurakshini Mohalla of Sasaram.
“I was supposed to travel to Kashmir with Manish and his family,” said uncle Alok Priyadarshi, “but I couldn’t go due to ill health. Maybe it was fate.”
