Family visits Rashtrapati Bhavan to return award
TARN TARAN : Family members of Balwinder Singh Sandhu, who was gunned down by two bike-borne men at his residence in Bhikhwind village of Tarn Taran district in October 2020, on Tuesday visited the Rashtrapati Bhavan to return two Shaurya Chakra awards in protest.
The family wants the government to grant “martyr” status to Sandhu and the facilities on a par with the family of a soldier with a gallantry medal.
Sandhu and his wife Jagdish Kaur were awarded Shaurya Chakras for fighting terrorism during its peak in Punjab.
During probe, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) found that the conspiracy to kill Sandhu was hatched by prokhalistani elements in Pakistan. Sandhu was the target as he fought against terrorism in Punjab, the NIA had said.
The state government had given Rs 5 lakh compensation to
Sandhu’s family after his death.
Among the family members who visited the Rashtrapati Bhavan included Jagdish Kaur, her brother Gulsher Singh and her son Arshdeep Singh.
“Since 1990, my family has been fighting against terrorism. On October 16, 2020, my husband was shot dead after his security cover was withdrawn by Punjab Police. I demand action against police officials who withdrew my husband’s security,” said Kaur.
“I have been urging the state authorities to strengthen our family’s security, but to no avail. Three policemen given to our family are not enough as they perform their duty on rotational basis. Our family is still on the hit list of the terrorists. Paramilitary personnel should be deployed for the family’s security,” Kaur said, adding that the government should grant her husband the status of a martyr.