I want action against Pakistan and not money. I want my husband back,” wailed Pushpa Devi, wife of martyred Indian solider Vijay Kumar, while declining the financial compensation of Rs 10 lakh announced by the Nitish Kumar Government for the bereaved family of the soldier.
In an audacious attack on an area domination patrol of the Indian Army on Tuesday, a heavily-armed Border Action Team of Pakistan Army, supported by a group of trained militants, killed five Indian soldiers and injured another in Jammu.
While four of the slain soldiers Vijay Kumar, Raghunandan Prasad, Premnath Singh and Shambhu Saran belonged to 21 Bihar Regiment, the fifth one, Kundlik Mane was from 14-Maratha light Infantry.
The bodies of the four soldiers were brought to Patna late on Wednesday night.Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has announced a State funeral for the four martyrs from Bihar and also a compensation of Rs 10 lakh for the next of kin.However, the family of Vijay Kumar refused to accept the cheque of Rs 10 lakh and instead demanded tough action against Pakistan.
“Nitish Kumar should exercise his influence and persuade the Government to frustrate all attempts of Pakistan with all the might under its command,” Vijay Kumar’s brother Brajnandan Kumar told reporters at his home in Danapur. Pushpa Devi even threatened to set herself and her two children ablaze if stern action was not taken against Pakistan soon.
Vijay Kumar’s family is not alone in demanding action against Pakistan. Family members and people hailing from the villages of the other martyred soldiers also want the Indian Government to retaliate.
Two of the slain soldiers, Raghunandan Prasad and Premnath Singh hail from Saran district and the villagers there want the UPA Government to take tough action against Pakistan, making it clear that “perpetrators of violence” will not remain unpunished this time.
“They have killed five of our soldiers but we want India to kill 500 Pakistani soldiers. Did the US react in the same mild manner as India did after losing its soldiers in a cowardly attack,” they demanded.
The villagers want the Government to name Kopasamhopa railway station after Premnath Singh and construct a stadium at Kopa village in his memory.
Similar scenes were witnessed at the village of martyred soldier Shambhu Saran.
“We want 5,000 soldiers of Pakistan to be killed in a retaliatory operation,” they shouted in a chorus. Shambhu hailed from Hargoin village in Bhojpur district and was the son of a policeman, Banshidhar Rai. He is survived by his wife, Sapna Kumar, three daughters and a son.
Earlier in the day, protests were organised in various towns including Chhapra, Bihta and Begusarai. A group of protesters disrupted the movement of Chhapra-Gorakhpur passenger train and lichhavi Express at Kopasamhopa railway station.
According to Public Relations Officer (In-Charge) of North Eastern Railway, Gorakhpur, SP Mishra, Sampark Kranti Express and Vaishali Express have been diverted to the Bhatni-Varanasi route in view of the disruption of train services in Saran district.
Meanwhile, the bodies of the four soldiers reached Patna late on Wednesday night.Senior Army personnel of the Danapur-based Bihar Regimental Centre along with State Government officials were present at the Jaiprakash Narayan International Airport in Patna when the special aircraft of the Indian Air Force carrying the bodies of the martyrs landed.
A large number of senior State BJP leaders including former Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Modi, former BJP Ministers Giriraj Singh and Ashwani Kumar Choubey were present at the airport to pay their respect. They raised slogans against Pakistan and also demanded strong action against it.
Sadly, not one Minister from the Nitish Kumar Government was at the airport to receive the bodies. A senior officer of Bihar Regiment Centre said that the bodies will be cremated at the native villages of the soldiers with full military honours on Thursday.