What they left behind: Parents, wives, kids and memories
LUCKNOW : Nothing could have communicated their loss better than the expression of deep sorrow on their face. The family members of the four slain policemen invited to attend the Reserve Police Commemoration Day ceremony at the Police Lines here on Sunday said little in words, but much through their eyes.
Seated right in the front, beside the memorial statue overlooking the parade ground, the kin of the martyrs remained quiet most of the time. “I am reminded of my son after seeing all these people in the uniform. I know it will never happen, but I don’t want to give up the hope of seeing my son like this one last time,” said Ramveer Singh, father of constable Deepak Kumar who was killed when a convoy he was travelling in met with a road accident in February this year. Remembering his son, the sexagenarian added softly, “It gives me peace that he is being remembered after his death.”
The ceremony included a parade salute to the martyrs.
As those gathered bowed their heads in homage to the departed bravehearts, the master of ceremonies set the tone for the day’s proceedings with the couplet -“Maut uski hai jiska kare zamana afsos, warna sabhi aaye hain duniya main marne ke liye (Death of a person who is mourned by the world is something, else everyone comes to this world to die).”
Seated beside Ramveer was Swati Mishra, widow of constable Brijesh Mishra who was a part of the same ill-fated convoy as Deepak. Swati, who had been married to Brijesh for just ten months, mourned that her interaction with her husband was so short-lived. “Only memories are left now. We got married on April 19 and he left home on May 3. Then he came home for a few days a couple of times before we received the fateful news,” she said in a feeble voice, her eyes welling up with tears. A postgraduate, Swati said she was trying to get her life back on track.
Neha Tomar, widow of constable Ankit Tomar who was martyred after being shot at during a police operation, sat next to Swati. “What can a woman say about her husband who sacrificed his life fighting the evil? I hope people remember his sacrifice,” she said, holding her oneyear-old son Daksh.
Next to Neha was Kanti Singh, mother of constable Ramvriksh Singh who died after being attacked outside his unit.
CM Yogi Adityanath met the martyrs’ kin after his address, assuring them of government support. He also reiterated his promise of providing pension to the next of kin of slain police personnel and a job under quota for the dependent of the dead.