State govt gives Rs 20 lakh compensation to martyr’s family

Goverdhan: Irked by the negative fallout of the dharna and fast by the family members of rifleman Samod Singh, who was killed battling terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir last week, the state government has decided to grants Rs 20 lakh as compensation and recognition of his valiant service to the country.
Minister Ram Shakl Gurjar today visited Bahavnpura village to inform the martyr’s family about the state government’s decision to provide them the compensation and to persuade Singh’s widow, Seema, to break her fast.Singh, who was a rifleman with 14 Rashtriya Rifles, succumbed to serious injuries in an Army hospital in Srinagar on October 28 after a gun battle.
After the funeral, the villagers and family members had expressed deep regret that no responsible person either from the state government or the Centre had visited the village and met family members, nor was any reward announced. On November 1, five family members staged a dharna, while Singh's widow began an indefinite fast.
The state government, in response, announced a reward of Rs 20 lakh on November 2. Meeting the family on Tuesday, minister Gurjar offered a glass of milk to the soldier’s widow, informed her family of the rewards and promised to repair the village school as well as build a decent memorial to the martyr at Bhavanpura.
Samod Singh's father Bachchu Singh handed over a letter addressed to the chief minister saying if the money was not received in five days, the family members would again begin the dharna and fast.
MS Bitta, national president of the Anti-terrorism Front, also visited the village and met family members. Offering floral tributes at the martyr's photo, Bitta said the demand was perfectly justified and in fact the UP chief minister himself should have come. The union government should also have sent its representative. He also said the local MP Hema Malini, who got votes from the area should have also come.
Rashtriya Lok Dal leader and former MP from Mathura Jayant Choudhary also met family members of Samod Singh and consoled them. He praised the supreme sacrifice of the martyr and assured all help to the family.