Says her husband was shown to be on leave when he died due to which many benefits denied

The family members of the soldier who died in a road accident in Bathinda on Thursday. Photo: Vijay Kumar

Gagandeep Sharma

Tribune News Service

Bathinda, July 27

The widow and three daughters of a soldier of the Indian Army, who died in a road accident in 2015 in Mukerian (Hoshiarpur), have demanded justice and benefits from Defence Minister Arun Jaitley and the Army chief.They alleged that the Commanding Officer of his unit had shown the soldier on leave on the day of the accident due to which the family could not get any benefit.Addressing mediapersons, Rajidner Kaur, widow of soldier Satnam Singh, along with her three daughters, said her husband was posted at Pathankot as driver (DMT).She said on February 5, 2015, her husband was coming back with his Commanding Officer Sandeep Kumar and his family from Delhi to Pathankot on the personal car (CH-04-H-8395) of his officer, who belonged to Delhi.On the same day as they reached near Mukerian, they met with an accident, she said.All others escaped with minor injuries but her husband NK Satnam Singh succumbed to injuries, she added.Rajinder Kaur alleged that after some time it came into her notice that her husband was shown “on leave” on the date of the accident and this was done to cover up the misuse of authority by the Commanding Officer who was not entitled to take Satnam Singh for on his personal car for a private visit.She said it surfaced a few days ago when she received all documents of her husband’s death.She alleged that Col Sandeep Kumar had done it merely to save himself from any disciplinary action and minor penalties.She questioned that if her husband was on leave on that day then why he was driving the personal car of his Commanding Officer.She said she had to bring up her three daughters — Jasmanpreet Kaur in Class VII, Khushmanpreet Kaur in Class V and Gunseerat Kaur in LKG.She owns only half an acre. The financial compensation received after the death was curtailed, she said.Rajinder Kaur said neither she and nor her family members were entitled for a government job.She said her husband was virtually on duty and he was obeying the orders of his Commanding Officer.Rajinder Kaur demanded fresh probe into the death of her husband from the Defence Minister and Army chief.She also demanded free study of her three daughters in Army schools till Class XII, a government job for herself and a quarter in Bathinda.She said she tried to contact the Commanding Officer over the phone but couldn’t get through.When she reached Pathankot at his husband’s unit, she came to know that Sandeep Kumar was transferred a few days ago.The family has written a letter to the Defence Minister, Army chief and four other officials of Satnam Singh’s unit.