RANCHI: Tributes and condolences poured in for the slain jawan Jai Prakash Oraon as his body was brought to Ranchi on Thursday evening for last rites at his native village at Chanho block in Ranchi district.Oraon was on an anti-insurgency operation in Sajik Tampek in the Naga-dominated Chandel district of Manipur in the early hours of Wednesday when the troops engaged in a gunfight with a group of insurgents belonging to CorCom, an umbrella group of six militant outfits. Oraon was grievously injured in the gun battle and died at a military hospital later. A militant was killed and another jawan injured in the encounter. An IED blast in the same district had killed two Assam Rifles jawans on Monday, after which the government had sent police and paramilitary reinforcements to Chandel.Chief minister Raghubar Das also expressed grief at Oraon's death. Saluting the fallen soldier's bravery, Das said, "The people of Jharkhand are with the grieving family." The CM also announced an ex gratia of Rs10 lakh to the soldier's family.Governor Droupadi Murmu, rural development minister Neelkanth Singh Munda and former chief minister Babulal Marandi were among the people who turned up at the Birsa Munda Airport to pay their respects to the 32-year-old rifleman of Assam Rifles. Oraon's mortal remains were taken to his native Nawadih village in Raghunathpur panchayat, some 40km west of Ranchi, where last rites will be performed on Friday.Commissioned into the Indian Army in 2006, Oraon is survived by his wife Sangita and two daughters. The soldier's father, Shukra Oraon, is a farmer while his mother Laxmi is a homemaker.Always coming across as a man full of energy and zest, Oraon had last visited home in March on the occasion of Sarhul festival. His brother Basant told TOI that the family woke up to the news of the tragedy when they received a phone call at 6am on Wednesday. While the inconsolable family did not speak, Basant recalled his conversation with his brother on Monday night. "He told me that he will come home on a leave November 21. He was eagerly waiting to celebrate the first birthday of his younger daughter on December 6."

Stay updated with all the Latest Imphal headlines here. For more exclusive & live news updates from all around India, stay connected with NYOOOZ.