Countless mourners  gathered in Jhalda town of Purulia district on Thursday to pay their final respects to Intelligence Bureau officer Manish Ranjan Mishra, who lost his life in Tuesday’s terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam.

The mortal remains of the 41-year-old IB officer were brought to his residence from Ranchi airport in Jharkhand and then taken to Jhalda, about 50 km away, following a guard of honour at the CRPF camp in Ranchi on Thursday morning.

Mishra was also posted for nearly six years in Ranchi.

Manish’s father Mangalesh Mishra, a retired headmaster of Jhalda Hindi High School, sat in stony silence, waiting for his son’s coffin to arrive.

“My whole world is shattered. He was my brightest son, the most innocent soul. I have no words … will anyone understand my pain?” he said.

Several leaders and prominent figures, including state BJP president Sukanta Majumdar, District Superintendent of Police Abhijit Banerjee, leaders from the ruling party, and officials from the Purulia district administration were present to offer their condolences.

“Since yesterday I have been here. He was shot in front of his wife and child, imagine! The whole India is in pain, and more than pain, people are angry, anguished. I just want to assure everyone to have trust in Modi. Every drop of blood revenge will be taken. No one, simply no one, will be spared,” said Majumdar.

“He was from Jhalda and used to come and take part in quiz competitions in Ranchi too. He was just all rounder and so well behaved. He was like

my younger brother, I never thought I would have to see his body like this. We must stand united against such terrorists,” said one of his friend and senior.

In a show of solidarity and protest against the tragic incident, the Jhalda Nagorik Mancha called for a 12-hour bandh in Jhalda, Purulia. The shutdown commenced at 6 am on Thursday and continued till 6 pm.