The families of three cops who died fighting Maoist rebels years ago on Saturday played host to a team of Palamau policemen who wanted to show that the martyrs had not been forgotten.
The team led by subdivisional police officer Sandip Kumar Gupta also comprised circle inspector Sunit Kumar and officer in charge Vishnu Singh. They visited the families and enquired if they needed any help from the police.
The three were martyred in 2001, 2010 and 2011.
Martyr Ram Surat Singh’s father Kuldip Singh, a resident of Sikki, told Gupta that the name of his wife has not been included in the family ration card. Gupta asked the other officers to take up the issue with the district supply office immediately. Ram Surat was slain by the rebels in 2001.
Martyr Upender Singh’s family, residents of Pahley Kalan, welcomed the police team with apples and tea and appreciated being remembered years after his death in 2010. Upender was killed in Chak in a bid to save the life of then Palamau superintendent of police Anoop T. Mathew.
The family got his young widow to marry another male member, the police team was told.
At Jamooney, Gupta and his team met Kishori Prajapati’s father Ram Raj Mahto who broke down. He told the cops how Kishori’s wife had abandoned the family after receiving the Rs 45 lakh compensation the government had given them.
Gupta said: “I have asked the Sadar police station to take all details to see how Mahto’s daughter-in-law can be asked to start taking care of the family.”
Kishori was among the 11 cops who were killed in a landmine explosion in 2011. The contingent was escorting the then Chatra MP, Inder Singh Namdhari.
The Telegraph Online spoke to zonal inspector-general of police, Ranchi, Navin Kumar Singh, who is currently fighting a Covid-19 infection, regarding the visits by the police team. “Martyrs who died fighting rebels are seen as role models. Remembering their sacrifice can strengthen the feeling that the martyrs and their kin continue to be parts of a ‘police parivar (family)’,” he said.
