Commandant of CRPF 22nd Battalion Munna Kumar Singh, a rare paramilitary officer who impacted civilian life by being a frontrunner in overhauling Hazaribagh's image with a host of activities such as getting its lakes cleaned and public walls painted with sohrai art, is getting transferred to Imphal.

He joined the 22nd Battalion in Hazaribagh in June 2013.

In less than three years, he became one of the most well-known faces in town.

His popularity was evident from his farewell function at town hall on Wednesday night.

Everyone from the Bengalee Association, Lions Club, Hazaribagh Art and Cultural Association, Tarang Group and Dance Paradise, Janu Raj Film and Art Institute, Sanskar Bharti and other groups to the Muslim community, DIG of Hazaribagh range Upendra Kumar, DC Mukesh Kumar and former zilla parishad chairman Brajkishore Jaiswal joined in to give commandant Singh a grand send-off.

Social workers of the town who were behind organising this programme, including J.P. Jain, Prahlad Singh, Dungarmal Jain and Amit Kumar Gupta said what Singh did for this town during his tenure was "unforgettable".

Many said they loved the fact that Singh "radiated a positive mindset".

Singh, who will join CRPF's group centre in Imphal in the first week of June, said he had developed an emotional bond with Hazaribagh.

"I must obey the transfer order as a disciplined soldier. But, I am sad to think I have to leave this nice place. I joined CRPF in 1994 and in 22 years of service, got posted at various places, including Jammu and Kashmir. But the love and respect I got here in Hazaribagh was amazing," he said.

Singh started his work in 2013 by asking local people to join him to clean up the famous Hazaribagh lake quartet shrouded by jal kumbhi.

Singh also took well-known sohrai painters to the newly constructed Hazaribagh railway station last year and got the walls painted in this ethnic art form by spending from his own pocket. Prime Minister Narendra Modi noticed these painting in Hazaribagh while inaugurating the station on February 20 last year.

Singh is also credited for painting tree trunks on important stretches to give Hazaribagh a neat look.

He also monitored the Paint My City campaign of DC Mukesh Kumar, which resulted in vibrant walls from the lakes to Canary Hill as well as in other parts of the town. He also got Canary Hill cleaned.

Singh was also a rare paramilitary officer who encouraged local creative talents. "Whatever I am today is because of sir's encouragement," said local singer Shan Syed when asked to sing a song in the farewell programme.

"I thank Hazaribagh for its love," said an emotional Singh. " Dil bhar aaya. But, I only tried to make people feel proud of their beautiful town and its assets and take care of them. I've never seen places like Canary Hill and the lakes. They'll stay etched in my mind forever."

Vishnu Gautam from Delhi will replace Singh here.