Merely 24 hours after the crash, a wreath laying ceremony was held in the honour of nine Border Security Force and one Sashastra Seema Bal personnel, who became victims of a BSF air crash on Tuesday morning.
However, the ceremony which was attended by Home Minister Rajnath Singh, minister of state for home Kiren Rijiju, Delhi Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung among others, proved to be an embarrassment for Singh since anger was a dominant emotion among the family members.
A sentiment which could further be aggravated. dna has learnt that the crashed Ranchi-bound aircraft personnel personnel, was a second hand carrier purchased from a United States based aircraft supplier company.
According to documents accessed by dna, Aircraft Type Beech Super King Air B-200 with registration number VT-BSA, was previously owned by Rangeflyers Inc, an aircraft supplier company based in Wichita in US.According to its website, Range Flyers customers include the United States government, defense contractors, airline charter and business jet operators, aircraft manufacturers, dealers, brokers and individual aircraft owners.
The BSF aircraft ( serial number BB1485) that was sold to the Union Home Ministry was de-registered in the U.S in 1995 after being used by the company for more than a year. The Home Ministry purchased the aircraft the same year and was being used ever since. An email sent to Rangeflyers Inc has so far went unanswered. The company has also not responded to phone calls made by dna.
Meanwhile the inconsolable family members of the victims surrounded Singh and Rijiju at the ceremony demanding an explanation for the crashes that seem to routinely affect the air wing.
Colleagues, and batch mates present at the ceremony also questioned the government, its administration and their apathy towards a soldiers life. "Why does the government even bother to hire people, if all they want to do is have them killed eventually," an officer complained. "So much money is spent in their training, for what?," he added.
Sympathy and support was drowned by Saloni, Ravinder Kumar's daughter as she was heard accusing Singh "why did you allow them to fly in antique planes? Why does a soldier's family have to cry everytime?" The inconsolable family members surrounded Singh and Rijiju demanding an explanation for the crashes that seem to routinely affect the air wing.
Rajendra Prasad Bhatt, elder brother of deceased Deputy Commandant Bhagwati Bhatt, had just one question on his mind "What will happen to the surviving family members?" He wondered how the government would compensate the families and ensure the financial security of their future.
For a batch mate, Bhatt's death brought back suppressed memories. According to the batch mate who wishes to remain unnamed, Bhatt is the second close friend he has lost to air crash related incidents. Four years ago in 2011, four persons died when a helicopter belonging to the Border Security Force crashed in the hills of Fatehpur village near Abu Road in Rajasthan. Among them was Bhatt's batch mate and friend Deputy Commandant Vivek Chaudhary. There were two air crashes in 2011 alone.
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