She banks on community, government support

Sunit Dhawan

Tribune News Service

Bohar (Rohtak), February 21

The year gone by has been very tough for the family of Ravinder Nandal, a property-dealer of Bohar village in the district. On the evening of February 20, 2016, Ravinder(31) got a call from his friend who wanted some help in bringing his sister from her locality which had been declared unsafe by the local authorities. Ravinder went out to help his friend as incidents of arson and violence were rampant in the town. He never returned.

Late in the evening, Ravinder’s family members were informed that he had been admitted to the local PGIMS . Ravinder’s mother and brother rushed to the PGIMS, but he was unconscious.

Ravinder’s wife, Sapna, who belongs to UP and had gone to her parental village as her father had expired, was informed about Ravinder’s condition. However, she could reach Rohtak only on February 23, owing to the road blockades put up by members of the Jat community on the way to the town.

Ravinder died on February 25, leaving behind his mother, wife and three sons, the youngest of whom was just about six months old. With the shattering tragedy, Sapna’s world came crashing down.

Ravinder’s mother, Satwanti, who had lost one of her three sons earlier, lost her second son as well. The responsibility of the household has now come upon Ravinder’s brother, Devender, a small-time transporter. The family owns some agricultural land as well.

During the past one year, Ravinder’s family has been banking on the financial support provided by the state government, village community and khap organisations.

“The state government has given us a financial compensation of Rs 10 lakh while the community organisations have given us nearly Rs 35 lakh,” reveals Sapna.

Ravinder’s family members lament that no action has been taken against those responsible for his death. “The killers have not even been identified till date,” they bemoan.

Their neighbour, Guddi, also asserts that Ravinder’s murder case deserves a thorough probe and the person(s) responsible for his death ought to be punished.

Sapna was also offered a job by the state government but she refused to accept it as it was a contractual job. “I will accept if the government offers me a regular job,” she says.

Sapna, who left her studies after the fourth standard, maintains that she may be given a job at the government school, bank or post office located in her own village.

Sapna as well as Devender’s wife, Sonia, assert that members of the Jat community must get the benefit of reservation.