Punjab victims’ kin want DNA proof from Union govt

WITHOUT THESE PROOFS, HOW CAN WE BELIEVE THEM (GOVT OFFICIALS), SAYS AMRITSAR’S GURPINDER KAUR WHOSE BROTHER IS AMONG THE VICTIMS

BHOEWAL (AMRITSAR) : Distraught kin of Punjabis killed in Iraq on Wednesday demanded DNA test reports of deceased from the government as proof of their deaths.

“First of all, the government must provide us proof. We also want the government to tell us the date of the killings. Without these proofs, how can we believe their (government’s) statement,” said Gurpinder Kaur, sister of Manjinder Singh of Amritsar, who is among the 27 Punjabi workers killed in Iraq.

Minister of External Affairs Sushma Swaraj told the House on Tuesday that 39 Indian workers who were missing in Iraq since 2014 have been killed.

The families of victims from Amritsar and Batala assembled at Manjinder’s house in Bhoewal village, about 30 km from Amritsar, and accused the central government of keeping them in the dark. “During the past four years, the Centre repeatedly gave us assurance that our kin are alive. They also showed us some letters of authorities in Iraq. Now, they have suddenly declared them dead,” said Manish Kumar, brother of another victim Harish Kumar of Batala.

Sarwan Singh, younger brother of Nishan Singh of Amritsar, said it was painful that the government “neither gave us formal intimation about the deaths nor it has told when the mortal remains of ourloved ones would be brought back”.

‘WE’VE LOST BREADWINNERS, GIVE US JOBS’

The grieving families also demanded that one member of each victim family should be given a government job on compassionate grounds.

Gurpinder said the financial condition of all the families was bad as most of the men killed were the sole breadwinners.