Martyr Paramjeet Singh’s wife did not want his body to be cremated till she got to see him one last time, but gave in to the army’s insistence
Seething with anguish, the grief-stricken family of Naib Subedar Paramjeet Singh said that they would not conduct his last rites till they are allowed to see him for the last time. But they had to give in to Army officials' insistence and the martyr was consigned to flames with full military honours in his village in the border district of Tarn Taran in Punjab on Tuesday.
Singh, 45, from 22 Sikh Infantry of the Indian Army and Head Constable Prem Sagar from 200th Battalion of the Border Security Force (BSF) were killed by PoK troops who targeted Indian personnel on the Indian side of the Line of Control (LoC) in Krishna Ghati sector in Poonch district and mutilated their bodies.
Singh's body, wrapped in tricolour, was brought to Veinpoin village for his last rites on Tuesday. As residents of all nearby villages congregated to pay their last tributes to the slain soldier, his family rued that none of the ministers from either the state or central governments was present.
Amidst heart-breaking wails, Singh's wife, Paramjit Kaur, said the family was not allowed to see his body and would not conduct the cremation till they see him. But the family had to relent after Army officials persuaded them to conduct the cremation.
Demanding that a befitting reply be given to Pakistan, Kaur said, "We have lost everything with his death. What about my children? The government had said that if they (Pakistan) kill one of our soldiers, we will kill 10 of their soldiers. But what is being done now? When will the government avenge his death?"
Singh is survived by his wife, two daughters, Simardeep Kaur, 14, and Khushdeep Kaur, 11, and a son, Sahildeep Singh, 11.
"Uss di shaheedi te maan hai (We are proud of his sacrifice). But he was my brother and we could not even see him for the last time. How many more soldiers will die before the government takes strict action. Those who say that there should be no war, I want to say that this nothing less than a war. Why can't we put an end to this?" said the martyr's elder brother, Ranjit Singh.
Singh was cremated with full military honors, as bugles sounded the 'last post' and a gun salute was accorded to him.
"People should not forget his sacrifice. I have lost my son, but he has made everyone proud," said his father, Udham Singh, struggling to control his tears. His mother Gurinder Kaur was inconsolable.
As a pall of gloom engulfed the village, outrage against the killing of the soldiers was reported in various districts of the state as people took to the streets to protest against the dastardly act. People burnt flags of Pakistan in Ludhiana and Amritsar while raising anti-Pakistan slogans.
Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh, who was conspicuous by his absence at the cremation, announced that a financial grant of Rs 5 lakh would be given to the martyr's family and expenses for the education of his children would be borne by the government. A government job was also promised to one of the family members. A government spokesperson said the CM would visit the family on May 7.
... & ANALYSIS
- Paramjit Kaur, the martyr’s wife, wants the government to give Pakistan a befitting reply.
- Despite the outcry over the death of her husband, who was beheaded by Pakistani soldiers, not one minister from the state or central governments showed up for his cremation.
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