After the death of Dalit labourer Raj Kumar Singh in an explosion, the family has appealed to the government for financial assistance for livelihood and children's education.
Bathinda, Punjab – The family of a Dalit man who died in a plane crash and explosion on May 7 in Bathinda has formally demanded compensation from the government. This accident took place during the recent India-Pakistan conflict.
Paramjit Kaur, wife of Raj Kumar Singh (38), submitted an application to the Naib Tehsildar of Goniana last week, demanding financial assistance for the maintenance of the family and education of the children.
Singh, who was a resident of Kothe Natha Singh Wale, Mehma Sawai village, was a farm labourer. He was present in the fields on the day of the accident when a military aircraft crashed in the fields near Akaliya Kalan village. While Singh and his son Jagmeet Singh (15) were helping villagers douse the fire, another blast occurred in which they were seriously injured. They were referred first to the government hospital in Goniana Mandi and then to Bathinda for treatment. As their condition deteriorated, they were taken to AIIMS, Bathinda, where they died four days later.
The first death in the accident was Govind Kumar (32), a resident of Haryana who had come to work as a farm labourer. He was among those who reached the spot immediately after the incident and was caught in the blast.
Paramjit Kaur wrote in her application that the family’s livelihood was entirely dependent on labour and they have no other support after her husband’s death. Both her children—Jagmeet Singh and Gagandeep Kaur (14)—are studying in school and have no financial support.
The incident has been confirmed in the general diary report filed by the local police on May 11. According to the statement of Singh’s younger brother Virwal, Raj Kumar stayed in the field that night and reached the spot with the villagers after the plane crash. Both he and his son were injured during the explosion.
According to the police report, the explosion was an accident, no conspiracy or criminal intent has been found. The family has refused to take any legal action against anyone. Based on the statement of Singh’s brother, the police have initiated action under Section 194 (investigation of death) of the Indian Civil Security Code (BNSS).
The deceased Govind Kumar is survived by his wife Mamta and two children—daughter Pari and son Prashant. He was the youngest of four siblings and lost his parents in his teens. Recently, he had come to Bathinda with his cousin and friends and was working as a wheat sack loader in a local mandi. All these workers were staying in a temporary shelter built in a field.
Govind Kumar’s family has also demanded financial compensation from the Bathinda district administration.
Rajan Chaudhary
Courtesy: Hindi News