Finally, Virbhadra sanctions ₹20 lakh for Sukma martyr

DHARAMSHALA: Himachal Pradesh chief minister Virbhadra Singh, on Saturday, finally sanctioned ₹20 lakh as ex gratia to the next of the kin of martyr Suresh Kumar who was killed in a Naxal attack in Sukma district of Chattisgarh on March 11.

Suresh Kumar, a resident of Sunhi village of Baroh Tehsil in Kangra district, was serving in the CRPF 219 Battalion of the Central Reserve Police Force. He was part of a patrolling party at Sukma, Chhattisgarh on March 11, when his team was attacked by the Maoist.

Suresh was among the 12 jawans who were martyred in the attack. He was the sole bread earner of his family and is survived by his 27-year-old wife, Neena Devi, a one-and-half-yearold daughter Navya and his old parents.

The martyr’s kin and residents of Sunhi village had staged a protest on July 13 at Dharamshala demanding adequate ex gratia relief for the family. They had also submitted a memorandum to the chief minister through the deputy commissioner.

Neena Devi rued that they were given ₹1.5 lakh as ex gratia, whereas the state government gave ₹20 lakh each to two other CRPF jawans who too attained martyrdom at Sukma on April 24 this year. She had questioned the disparity and the government policy of providing ex gratia.

The chief minister also directed Kangra deputy commissioner to ensure that the amount is disbursed as soon as the formalities are completed. HTC