Rupnagar : Life has been one long, lonely battle for parents of CRPF constable Kulwinder Singh, 26, of Rauli village near Nurpur Bedi in the district. Kulwinder was the only son of Darshan Singh and Amarjit Kaur and loneliness is what has come to define their lives since the attack. An occasional visit from relatives in the village brings them some respite from the grief.

The state government fulfilled some promises it made like providing them a monthly pension of ₹10,000 and naming the Government Middle School of the village after Kulwinder.Other promises remain unmet.

A still inconsolable Darshan says, “The government has not constructed a gate and a 18-foot wide road from our village to Mothapir in the memory of my son. We have also not been given free electricity as promised.” The proud father also resents being made to stand in queues in government offices. Deputy commissioner Sonali Giri said that demand for the construction of a gate and a 18-foot wide road in the memory of Kulwinder would be met soon. “Necessary approvals for this are in place,” she said, adding that a cheque of ₹2.5 lakh had been given to Darshan for the development of a playground in the memory of his son.

— Bahadurjeet Singh

Tarn Taran CRPF man’s kin await relief, debt waiver

TARN TARAN : Family members of head constable Sukhjinder Singh, 32, who was among the 40 Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel killed in the terror attack in Pulwama district of the erstwhile Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) on February 14 last year, are awaiting compensation and loan waiver announced by the Punjab government.

Sukhjinder’s widow Sarabjit Kaur, 28, said has been offered a job of a peon by the Punjab government, but she is not willing to accept it.

Sukhjinder, who joined the CRPF in 2003, was due to retire in 2022 and had planned to settle in Canada with his wife and son.

The family will commemorate his first death anniversary at a gurdwara in his native Gandiwind village falling under Patti sub-division on Friday.

“The government has forgotten his sacrifice,” said Sukhjinder’s 60-year-old father Gurmej Singh. “The government promised ₹12 lakh compensation and a Punjab minister gave us a cheque for ₹5 lakh to us soon after my son’s death. But, we are still waiting for the remaining amount,” he added. “The government also promised to waive ₹2.5 lakh farm loan, but nothing has been done so far,” said Sukhjinder’s elder brother Gurjant Singh.

—Anil Sharma

Moga hero’s son wants to don stars on his shoulders

MOGA : Gurparkash, the six-year-old son of Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) head constable Jaimal Singh, who was killed in the Pulwama terror attack last year, is waiting for his father to return.

Jaimal, 44, who belonged to Ghalauti village in Moga district, joined the CRPF in 1993 and visited the family on January 28, 2019, last time. He was driving the CRPF bus that was blown up by terrorists.

His wife Sukhjit Kaur said they were blessed with a son 16 years after their marriage. “As Jaimal couldn’t study in a good school, he wanted his son to get the best of education,” she said. Gurprakash wants to fulfil his father’s dream and become an officer.

“He is studying in Class 1 at a private school in Panchkula and the principal has promised to provide free education to him till Class 12. He is dreaming of donning stars on his shoulders,” said Sukhjit. Recalling her last conversation with Jaimal, Sukhjit said: “He told me that he was filling in for another driver who was on leave for his son’s wedding. He said he will call back. That call never came,” the slain trooper’s wife said.

The government promised monetary aid of ₹12 lakh to the family, but has only given ₹7 lakh to date.

—Parteek Singh Mahal