Prasoon Tiwari

New Delhi, April 18


Meet Prabhati Mishra, wife of late Reserve Inspector Sarat Chandra Mishra, who is struggling to keep her husband’s dream alive. Inspector Mishra was killed in a landmine blast triggered by Maoist in 2009. He had started a school for tribal children but now it seems Mrs. Mishra will surrender against the circumstances due to the insensitivity of concern authorities.

The story does not end here. There are numbers of families of soldiers which still have not received any legitimate compensation. After knocking all doors from local departments to CM office, the sufferers have come to the capital under the banner of ‘The Sunday Indian’ magazine.

Pratima Rao, lady constable, is a survivor of the Nayagarh massacre planned by Maoists. She was shot four times in an attack. Her wounds have recovered but it seems wounds given by her own department will not recover ever. Pratima lives in a rented house in Khandapada Road in Nayagargh. After two years she is still seeking for justice but nobody has taken interest in her pathetic condition.

“I was bleeding badly after attack. I was hospitalized. After a month and 18 days, the department informed me that I will not get any more financial aid and that I would have to pay my medical expenses. I had no idea how I would arrange the money,” said Pratima in a press conference.

Pratima’s brother went to meet SP, Cuttack but it does not work. Pratima applied for Rs. 20,000 from Police Welfare Fund (PWF) for her surgeries and the loan was released immediately. But she came to know few days later that PWF will recover Rs. 40,000 from her. According to Pratima, SP, Cuttuk withdrew additional Rs. 20,000 against her name. Later loan was waived off but she has not received any compensation.

Situation of Jayakrishna Bardhan, father of Ajit Bardhan is also very pathetic. Ajit was an Orissa police sub-inspector posted in the Maoist-infested Sundargarh district. He was kidnapped by a group of Maoists and next day his body was found near Jharbeda. Hearing the news, Jayakrishna suffered a heart attack.

The Orissa CM, Mr. Naveen Patnaik visited martyr’s home and instructed all arrangements for the family but nothing seem to be working out. Ajit’s family has even not received Ajit’s PF amount and family pension.

Why has government turned deaf ear on the concerns of widows and orphans of slain policemen? How much time government will take to meet the demands of sufferers? Instead of paying special attention to martyr’s families government seems to be in sleep mode. The lax attitude of concern authorities could discourage youngsters to participate in police and army.

The sufferers thank to’ The Sunday Indian’ for raising the issue.

“This is not the first time The Sunday Indian is taking such initiative but we also raised the voice of farmers of Bundelkhand in the same way,” said Anil Pandey, Special Correspondent of The Sunday Indian.