Hindustan Times (Patiala)

Amid void & loss, a mourner keeps her calm

Those killed are a cloth merchant, a Class10 student and a mason, who was father of four

- Surjit Singh letterschd@htlive.com

AMRITSAR:: The three victims of the grenade attack at the Nirankari Bhawan came from different family background­s as well as agegroups. Sukhdev Kumar was 58-year-old, Kuldeep Singh was 40 and Sandeep Singh just 17. Being the assistant preacher of Rajasansi unit of the sect, Sukhdev was holding the congregati­on when the attack took place. Kuldeep and Sandeep were among the followers.

SHE LOSES HUSBAND, BUT STAYED COMPOSED

Even as she lost her husband Sukhdev Kumar, who was the assistant preacher at the Rajasansi unit of Nirankari Mission, in the grenade blast, 55-yearold Parveen was seen meditating calmly and trying to pacify others.

Her husband, Sukhdev, 58, was a cloth merchant at Mirankot village on the outskirts of the city. He was given the key post in the mission keeping in view his service and commitment. “My husband had been with the mission for the last 40 years and was a committed ‘sewadar’ of the sect,” said Parveen.

Till the body of her husband remained inside the hospital, she was seen chanting hymns with folded hands. She spoke calmly to those who came to her to express condolence­s, asking them to remember God.

People close to Sukhdev’s family said his unmarried daughter is studying in New Zealand since 2014 and she was scheduled to return to India in January. “Sukhdev was desperatel­y waiting to see her after four years, but the destiny had other plans,” they said.

FAMILY HAD HIGH HOPES FROM SANDEEP

In the past, 17-year-old Sandeep Singh rarely attended the weekly prayer at Nirankari Bhawan whenever he came to drop his mother there. However, on Sunday, he opted to attend the ‘satsang’, oblivious that the decision would turn fatal.

Sandeep was studying in Class 10 at Guru Harkrishan Public School, Ranjit Avenue. He was one of the two sons of Narinderpa­l Singh of Rajasansi. Narinderpa­l said Sandeep was bright and the family had high hopes from him.

With wet eyes, Narinderpa­l voice choked while talking about his son. He expressed his anger against the police for their failure to prevent the attack despite a statewide alert.

BREADWINNE­R GONE, FAMILY ON ITS OWN

A pall of gloom descended at Bagga Kalan village where a family lost its sole breadwinne­r in the grenade attack at Nirankari Bhawan on Sunday. Kuldeep Singh, 40, worked as mason. He is survived by his wife Sarabjit Kaur and four children — 20-year-old son, who is unemployed, and three daughters.

Sarabjit was seen praying for the wellbeing of her husband at IVY hospital as she didn’t know of his death till evening, even as Kuldeep had been declared brought dead. She said the family started attending the satsang at Nirankari Bhawan a year ago.

“My husband is admitted here but I am not allowed to meet him. May he get well as he is the family’s sole breadwinne­r. Who would take care of us in his absence,” she said.

When she heard the bad news, the scene turned tragic.

Dharaminde­r Singh, her relative, said the family was very poor.

THE WIFE OF KULDEEP, ONE OF THOSE KILLED, WAS SEEN PRAYING FOR HIS WELLBEING AT A HOSPITAL AS SHE WAS NOT AWARE OF HIS DEATH TILL EVENING

 ?? PTI AND HT ?? Inconsolab­le relatives of the victims of the grenade explosion at the Nirankari Bhawan in Rajasansi near Amritsar on Sunday.
PTI AND HT Inconsolab­le relatives of the victims of the grenade explosion at the Nirankari Bhawan in Rajasansi near Amritsar on Sunday.
 ?? AP ?? One of the injured in the grenade explosion at the Nirankari Bhawan being treated at a hospital in Amritsar on Sunday.
AP One of the injured in the grenade explosion at the Nirankari Bhawan being treated at a hospital in Amritsar on Sunday.

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