Unfulfilled promises: Pulwama martyrs' families in Bihar deplore government's empty words

As part of a series by Zee Media on the brave CRPF jawans who were martyred in the dastardly 2019 Pulwama attack, we remember the sacrifice of the fallen soldiers and revisit the families to know how they have been coping up with the loss. In this edition, tales of unfulfilled promises and unmatched desolation from Bihar.

Sanjay Kumar Sinha (Patna)

One of the brave CRPF personnel who the country lost in the dastardly Pulwama attack was Sanjay Kumar Sinha, from Masaurhi in Bihar's Patna.

To this date, the loss of this brave soldier is felt not only by the armed forces, but also by his family. Sinha was also the loving father to his daughter, who said that her life became desolate the moment when her father was taken away in the attack. However, the girl said that she was also proud that her father was the heroic son of the nation.

Sinha's family said that the aid provided by the government has enabled a road to finally be constructed to their shabby little home, but the memorial that was promised is yet to be built.

Constable Ratan Kumar Thakur (Bhagalpur)

A somewhat similar story unfolds with the family of brave martyr Ratan Thakur, who hailed from Madarganj in Bihar's Bhagalpur.

Ratan left behind his family, which includes his wife, father, brother and a son. To date, they remember the moment when the martyr's mortal remains reached his native village of Madarganj. Thousands of people, even local officials and leaders, had gathered to solemnly mark the tragic turn of events.

Notably, Ratan's family was assured of help by the Bihar government, as well as the central government. Although they received an amount of money as compensation, the family still has to live in a rented house.

According to Ratan's family, Chief Minister of Bihar Nitish Kumar had talked about renaming the village, the panchayat and the local school after the martyr but none of these were accomplished. Further, the central government had promised to provide housing to the family in the capital. However, that too, was not met, the family corroborated.

"Some officials had promised that the Prime Minister would meet our family after the 2019 general elections. However, the promises remain where they were, mere words in thin air," Ratan's younger brother lamented.

However, morales remain strong as ever in the family, their love for the nation unmatched. "Our son, Krishna, will enlist in the armed forces when he grows up," said Raj Nandini, the wife of martyred constable Ratan Thakur.

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February 14 this year marks the anniversary of the deadly 2019 Pulwama terror attack, that had taken the lives of 40 Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel. On February 14, 2019, a powerful explosion rocked a convoy of vehicles carrying the security personnel, many of them returning from leave to rejoin duty in the Jammu and Kashmir, on the Jammu-Srinagar Highway at Latoomode in Pulwama district. The powerful explosion, triggered by a suicide bomber carrying explosives in a car, reduced a CRPF bus to a mangled heap of iron and 40 jawans lost their lives. 

The responsibility for the attack was claimed by the Pakistan-based terror outfit Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) and the police identified the suicide bomber as Adil Ahmad Dar, a local from the Pulwama district and a member of JeM. Though Pakistan has denied any responsibility for the attack, India has insisted on Pakistan's role in it.