M A I N   N E W S

His father had fought for B’desh
Family grieves alone for BSF constable
Jatinder Sharma

Rohtak, April 23
Constable Anand Singh Dahiya who belonged to Garhi-Sisana village 30 km from here, was among 16 BSF jawans tortured and killed in cold blood last week by personnel of the Bangladesh Rifles at Pyrdiwah (Meghalaya).

The body of the 30-year-old constable was mutilated beyond recognition. Hence, the BSF authorities performed the last rites at the 118 Battalion Headquarters at Tura.

Surprisingly, the family members of the deceased constable did not receive any official information about his death. The family learnt about the tragedy through newspapers. They then telephonically contacted the BSF headquarters in Delhi for confirmation of the news.

The administration of Sonepat district in which Garhi-Sisana falls also remains unaware of the death of the BSF jawan. As a result, neither any government official nor ruling party functionary has visited the bereaved family to offer condolences. The sole politician who visited the family today was the DCC chief.

Constable Dahiya was scheduled to arrive in his village on April 10. He deferred his leave to April 25 and informed his parents about it, but the fate willed otherwise as he fell a victim to the atrocities of the Bangladesh Rifles.

The constable belonged to a family of ex-servicemen. His father, Mr Dayanand took active part in the 1962, 1965 and 1971 wars with China and Pakistan.

Ironically, constable Dahiya was killed by those for whose independence his father had fought the Pakistan army 30 years ago. The Paramvir Chakra awardee, Major Hoshiar Singh, hero of the NEFA war in 1962, also belonged to Sisana village and was a close relative of the deceased.

Constable Dahiya had joined the BSF in 1990 and was the only earning member of the family. The family owns 15 bighas of land. Besides his parents, he is survived by his wife, Kavita, five-year-old daughter Puja, two-year-old son Amit and younger brother Tasvir Singh.

The DCC chief has urged the government to pay Rs 10 lakh as compensation to the family.