English
A family in Hamirpur district of Himachal Pradesh, whose son, an Agniveer soldier, died in Kashmir earlier this week, have made a passionate appeal to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Droupadi Murmu to order a probe into their son’s death and ensure justice is served.
An Agniveer soldier, Nikhil Dhadwal, who was posted in Tanda area of Jammu and Kashmir’s Akhnoor sector, died on Thursday under mysterious circumstances. The soldier’s father, Daler Singh, a taxi driver by profession, said he was informed on the phone that his son– who belonged to the first batch of Agniveer soldiers and had completed two years in the Army– had sustained injuries and later died.
The Agniveer’s body was brought to his native village Lahlari in Hamirpur district on Friday and the last rites were performed with full state honours.
On Saturday, Dhadwal’s father appealed the President and and Prime Minister to hold an inquiry into the death of his son and ensure justice is served so no one is afraid of joining a scheme like Agniveer.
The soldier’s parents said the army had earlier informed them that their son had sustained grievous injuries, but later told them that he had died.
Akhil, brother of the deceased soldier, has also requested the government to investigate his death and do justice to him. “How did the death happen? It should be found out,” he said.
On Friday, emotional scenes were witnessed as the Akhil lit the pyre in presence of hundreds of local people and others.
The family suspects that there is a mystery behind the death of their son which should be investigated.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, in a message to the family, said the news of the untimely death of Agniveer Nikhil is very sad. May God give strength to the bereaved family to bear this loss.
Deputy Commissioner Amarjit Singh and SP, Bhagat Singh had also visited the home of Nikhil and consoled the bereaved family.
Lt Col Varun Gandhi who had accompanied the body from Kashmir to Hamirpur did not comment about the reason behind the Agniveer’s death.
(With PTI inputs)
