Goof-up adds insult to injury of Iraq victim kin

Jalandhar/Chandigarh, Mar 21

In a case that reflects either insensitivity or overzealousness of the state, families of two victims reached Amritsar airport to receive the mortal remains of their kin killed in Iraq, whose death was declared by the Central Government on Tuesday. 

Irrespective of the communication that flowed, members of the families of Parwinder Kumar of Jagatpur village and Jasveer Singh of Mahindpur village reached Guru Ram Dass Jee International Airport to have the last glimpse of the departed following a message from the district authorities on Wednesday morning.

This, on a day when Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh claimed that he had spoken to Minister of State for External Affairs VK Singh to follow up on the issue of bringing back the mortal remains of the Indian hostages killed in IS captivity. In fact, he told mediapersons at the Vidhan Sabha that VK Singh had said that it would take around two weeks to bring back the mortal remains of the deceased.

However, a letter, dated March 20, issued by Nawanshahr Deputy Commissioner (DC) Amit Kumar stated that the bodies of the two would arrive at Amritsar airport at 10 am on Wednesday.

The DC had even directed PSPCL Executive Engineer Ranjit Singh and Inspector Shavinder Pal to accompany the families. While the two officers, along with the families, reached the airport, the authorities there told them that there was no such development. 

The Nawanshahr DC claimed he was asked to be in touch with the Amritsar DC office. “There was no ill- intention; rather, we wanted to provide all help,” he said.

On the other hand, Amritsar DC Kamaljit Singh Sangha said: “We had only asked everyone to be prepared. How can we give the time and date when no such communication had been received from the MEA?”

Meanwhile, Capt Amarin-der said his government would try to find jobs for the kin of the deceased and continue to pay Rs 20,000 monthly to the families. — TNS/PTI