DAY AFTER ACCUSING KHATTAR GOVT, MARTYR’S FAMILY GETS COMPENSATION

KURUKSHETRA: A day after family members of martyr Mandeep Singh accused the state government of not fulfilling promises made by chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar, the district administration and local MLA Pawan Saini reached out to the family and handed over cheques of ₹50 lakh of ex gratia. The government swung into action after family members announced that they will meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi as the BJP government in the state “could not keep its promises”. In October last year, the 26-year-old Sepoy Mandeep Singh of the 17th Sikh regiment was martyred in a gunfight with militants along the Line of Control in Kashmir’s Machill sector. His body was mutilated by the militants. According to family members, on October 30, Manohar Lal Khattar, who attended Mandeep Singh’s funeral had announced to give an ex gratia of ₹50 lakh and a government job to a member of the family and construction of memorial in the village. But, even after four months, none of the announcements had seen light of day. On Sunday, BJP’s Ladwa MLA Pawan Saini, accompanied by Kurukshetra deputy commissioner Sumedha Kataria, reached Antehri village and handed over cheques of ₹50 lakh to the family. Refuting allegations of negligence made by the martyr’s family, Saini said the BJP government was “very sensitive about its soldiers” and their families that it why it has increased the amount of ex-gratia to ₹50 lakh from ₹10 lakh, besides a government job to a family member. However, the MLA did not speak about a demand made by the family — promotion of Mandeep’s widow Prerna, who is a constable in Haryana police. He said the government was ready to extend support to the family.