‘Had govt acted tough, my dad would’ve been alive’

Family members of jawans killed in the attack on CRPF personnel in Chhattishgarh express their anguish and urge Centre to deal with Naxalites with iron hand

Hundreds with moist eyes bid farewell to CRPF assistant sub-inspector (ASI) Sanjay Kumar (46), who was among 25 paramilitary personnel killed after Maoists ambush them in Sukma of Chhattisgarh on Monday.

Kumar, was cremated with full state honours in his native village here at Chechian, 12 kilometres from Palampur town.

His daughters Amisha Sharma, Kashish Sharma, and nephew Surya Sharma lit the pyre.

The martyr is survived by his 83-year-old father Rajendera Prasad Sharma, who also retired from CRFP, mother Shakuntla Devi, wife Ankita Sharma and daughters Amisha and Kashish—students of Class-11 and 7 respectively.

He was the youngest of the three brothers.

CRPF deputy inspector general Pratap Singh, Kangra superintendent of police (SP) Sanjeev Gandhi and additional deputy commissioner Richa Verma placed the wreath on the body of the martyr.

A contingent of CRPF jawans paid their tributes by reversing their arms and firing gunshots in the air.

Earlier, his body was flown to Pathankot from Raipur. From Pathankot the mortal remains of the martyr were brought in a helicopter to Gaggal airport and from there by road to his village.

Kumar joined CRPF in 1990 and also served in terror-infested state of Jammu and Kashmir.

He had recently come home on holiday during Holi festival.

DAUGHTER POSES TOUGH QUESTIONS

Venting her anger martyr Sanjay Kumar’s elder daughter Amisha blamed the government for death of her father.

She said that had the government acted tough against Maoist militants after the earlier attacks on paramilitary forces, she would not have lost our father.

“Government and politicians talk big but do nothing. They formulate polices sitting in AC rooms and just express grief when soldiers die,” she said.

“They don’t feel pain of the families of martyrs,” she rued.

This time if the government does not act, Amisha said, I would seek answer from the government from every possible platform.

HIMACHAL POLITICIANS DO NOT TURN UP

Ironically, none of the politicians from the ruling Congress and opposition Bhartiya Janta Party (BJP) turned up to meet the grieved family or at cremation ground.

Three cabinet ministers in present government GS Bali, Sujan Singh Pathania and Sudhir Sharma are from Kangra, besides Vidhan Sabha Speaker BBL Butail.

Only leader present was former BJP legislator from Palampur Praveen Sharma, who is also related to the slain solider.

Government and politicians just make lofty statements. They formulate polices sitting in AC rooms and just express grief when soldiers die. They don’t feel pain of the families of martyrs. AMISHA, Kangra martyr’s daughter