Hazaribag Woman Joins BSF Constable Post After Father's Murder, Inspiring Girls

Hazaribag: Growing up without a father, Ranjana Kumari (22), from Amanari village in Hazaribag’s Tatijharia block, has turned personal tragedy into a story of grit and national service. Daughter of an anganwadi helper, Ranjana has been selected by the Border Security Force (BSF) for the post of constable, and she will soon be deployed in the Rajasthan sector of the India–Pakistan border at Jaisalmer.She was just nine when her father, Manoj Kumar Kushwaha, a manager at a city hotel, was murdered on January 1, 2013, leaving the four family members — Manoj’s wife and three daughters — on the brink of survival.Mystery shrouds Manoj’s death. Police and his family members said Manoj’s body was found in a pool of blood in room no 102 of Hotel Mahajan Palace of Hazaribag city on Jan 2, 2013. Police had found a blood-stained shovel and confirmed that Manoj was hit on his head by the shovel, resulting in his death on the spot.

Later, a few pages of the hotel’s guest entry register were found torn in a bid to hide who the visitors were in that hotel on the day when the murder took place.

The police investigation resulted in the arrest of two suspects, but the motive of the murder remained a mystery.Ranjana’s mother, Nutan Devi, an anganwadi helper, brought up her three daughters on a modest income. Determined not to let hardship define her future, Ranjana supported her education by tutoring around 40 village children while pursuing her studies.

A meritorious student, she completed her schooling in Hazaribag and pursued history at the Vishnugarh Degree College. Her perseverance paid off when she cleared the SSC-conducted BSF GD recruitment examination in Ranchi. She subsequently underwent rigorous training in Siliguri, West Bengal, for one year, and the passing-out parade took place last week.Speaking about her achievement, Ranjana said, “My elder sister, Sanjana Kumari, is married to software engineer Prashant Ranjan, who is posted at Vishakhapatnam.

Younger sister, Anjali Kumari, is pursuing her graduation from Hazaribag.”Her brother-in-law Ranjan said, “She (Ranjana) worked hard to achieve her target. We were all present at the passing-out parade in Siliguri with a sense of pride to salute her hard work and determination.”Ranjana is now set to take up her first posting. “When I first wore the uniform, I remembered my father. I was only nine years old when he left us. This uniform is the result of my mother’s struggle and sacrifice,” she said, adding that her achievement is dedicated to girls growing up amid deprivation. She also credited her sisters, extended family, and relatives from her maternal family side for their constant support.