They were hoping against hope

Rachna Khaira

Tribune News Service

Kapurthala/Jalandhar, March 20

Doaba-based families of some of the victims killed in Iraq that had been holding on to hope given by the Union Government are in a state of despair.

‘Totally wrecked’

Baljinder Singh (80), an ex-serviceman based at Murar village in Kapurthala, was waiting outside the house for his grandson to return home from Jalandhar, but instead he got the news of his elder son declared “officially dead”.

“Though we knew the fate long ago, there was still a hope to see Gobinder again. In these four years, the condition of my family has gone from bad to worse, both emotionally and financially,” said the aggrieved father.

He said to sustain the family, his 17-year-old grandson Amandeep Singh had to drop out of school to work in a factory at a daily wage of Rs 250.

‘Dad died a slave’s death’

Balwant Rai’s son Rakesh Kumar, 27, could barely hold his tears as he blames himself for his father’s death. “It was me who insisted and arranged money for his travel. Little did I know that I am arranging a death warrant for him. I wish I could bring him back,” he said, adding that though his father had told them about the worrisome situation in Mosul, he could not gather courage to leave the job due to heavy loans taken for it. He died a slave’s death, he said.

“No money can bring my husband back. I have lost everything in life,” said Balwant’s wife Gian Kaur.

‘Life in tatters, can’t be stitched’

For the last 12 years, the family of Surjit Mainka has been eking out a living by stitching footballs at their residence at Churuwaali village. Though the earning was a mere Rs 10-12 per football, they were happy to be together. In 2013, Surjit boarded a flight to Iraq in the hope of providing a better living to his 82-year-old mother and wife.

Now, the women of the house have no option but to go back to stitching footballs again. “The huge loan taken to send my husband has multiplied several times with interest. I do not think I can repay it in one life,” said Usha holding her only son in her arms.

‘Nothing left to look forward to’

Manjit Kaur (43), wife of Davinder Singh, said she received a call from her in-laws asking her to watch the news. Unable to control her tears, she said the long wait had ended with the soul-shattering news. Earlier after an assurance by the Centre, she was sure that her husband would return someday.

Working as a tailor at Rurka Kalan village, near Goraya, she had left her in-laws’ house after Davinder went to Dubai before going to Iraq.