A pall of gloom descended on KSRP quarters in Koramangala, where the wife and children of Mahadev S Mane, 40, the slain Anti-Naxal Force (ANF) constable, resides.
The policeman’s wife Shobha was inconsolable when the tragic news broke out. “She remained speechless for a while. We were not able to control her and the children were also crying. We made her take rest,” said a neighbour.
Police officials called Shobha in the morning to inform her about the tragic death of Mane. When higher officials visited the house later, grief-stricken Shobha, 35, said she could not believe that Mane was no more. Mane had promised to come home in a month’s time.
Neighbours struggled to control Shobha as she cried, “Now who will take care of me; who will take the responsibility of my children?”
Home Minister R Ashoka, director general of police Neelam Achuta Rao, KL Sudheer, IGP, KSRP, and other senior officials visited Mane’s house in Bangalore.
Around 11 am, Shobha, her children, five neighbours and a battalion left for Malegaon in Maharashtra, where the last rites will be conducted.
Mane’s parents, who hail from Malegaon, had settled down in Bijapur district. His wife and children are residing in Kuvempu Sankirana, the 9th Block of KSRP quarters. Mane married Shobha about 15 years ago. The slain constable’s elder son Sandeep Mane is a class 9 student of Chinmaya School and younger son Pradeep Mane, a class 8 student of Police Public School.
An active cop
Mane’s friends and neighbours remembered him as an active cop.
“He never liked to waste time and always wanted to achieve something in life,” said Raghav, a friend.
Shantha, a neighbour, said that Mane had asked higher officials to transfer him to ANF. His wife Shobha, who was always supportive towards Mane, opposed the transfer. “But Mane convinced her and joined ANF,” said Shantha.
Shobha had asked Mane to come back to Bangalore, but he did not pay any heed. Mane had joined ANF a year ago.
Final words
Mane used to call his wife and children every day. The last time Mane spoke to Shobha, he asked her not to call him. Mane had said that he will call whenever time permitted.
He fought Veerappan
Mane joined the police department in 1993. He was deployed in the 9th battalion of Karnataka State Reserve Police in Bangalore.
In 1995, he joined Special Task Force team and was part of the squad which killed forest brigand Veerappan. He was also part of the team which encountered Naxals in Pavagada. In 2002, he rejoined ninth battalion of KSRP, Bangalore. He served there till 2010 before his transfer to ANF.
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