Martyred jawan’s kin go on indefinite fast

Mathura: Family members of an army jawan who was recently killed in an exchange with terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir have gone on an indefinite fast here charging that the central and state governments had “treated the matter of his martyrdom casually”.

Bacchu Singh, the father of deceased 14 Rastriya Rifles jawan Samod Chaudhary, said, “Our fast will continue until Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav come to the village to pay homage to Samod and console the family.”

The family also said that they want the bus stand at Goverdhan and a new park in the village to be named after Samod, who was killed earlier this week during an encounter with terrorists in Kashmir.

Meanwhile, District Magistrate Rajesh Kumar urged the family of the deceased jawan to not opt for such a protest.

“We are proud of the sacrifice of Shaheed Samod Chaudhary.

My advise to his family is not to take such a step. Place your demands with a rider that if they are not fulfilled within the stipulated time, then further steps may be taken.”

The father of the jawan said that the family members were angry at how no senior leaders had come to condole the slaying of Samod, who had killed a dreaded terrorist carrying a reward of 20 lakh on his head.

BJP’s Hema Malini is the Mathura MP.

–PTI