**Bhubaneswar: ** Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Tuesday announced ex-gratia of Rs 5 lakhs and monthly pension of Rs 2,000 for the bereft family of martyred CRPF jawan Pradeep Kumar Panda of Sundargarh district.
Issuing a press release, the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) stated, “This aid has been extended from the State Government’s Defence and Paramilitary Personnel Relief Fund. Besides the ex-gratia of Rs 5 lakhs, a monthly pension of Rs 2,000 has also been granted to the martyr’s wife from the same Fund.”
Earlier, the CM also paid his homage by tweeting:
Saluting the valiant son of Odisha Pradeep Panda who laid down his life for the motherland. He was the pride of @crpfindia for his gallantry. The braveheart will always live in our hearts and inspire us with his heroism. https://t.co/4be5hSazcv
— Naveen Patnaik (@Naveen_Odisha) January 2, 2018
Notably, Pradeep along with his four other co-jawans were killed in a terrorist attack in Lathpora area of Pulwama in Jammu and Kashmir in the wee hours on Sunday.
Son of Pitamber Panda of Liploi village under Rajgangpur Tehsil limits in Sundargarh district, martyred Pradeep had joined the paramilitary force in 2006 and was with the CRPF 132 Battalion.
While he is father of a little son, his wife is also at present in an advance stage, as per family sources.
