Won’t immerse Agniveer’s ashes until declared martyr: Family

The mother of Agniveer Akashdeep Singh, who died due to a bullet injury in the line of duty in Jammu on May 15, has decided not to immerse his ashes until the Centre formally recognises him as a martyr. Akashdeep, a resident of Kothe Chahal village in Faridkot, joined the Army under the Agnipath scheme two years ago.

Akashdeep’s mother Karamjit Kaur said she fainted on the day her son’s body was brought home and later came to know that he had not been accorded the status of a martyr.

“Akashdeep gave his life for the nation, but he has not been given the respect and status he deserves. Until the government declares him a martyr, I will not immerse his ashes,” she said. Karamjit urged the Centre to roll back the Agnipath scheme to protect young lives from being lost at such an early age.

She claimed that promises made by the Baba Farid University of Health Sciences to start an award in her son’s name and provide lifelong free medical care to the family had not been communicated to them officially. “We only heard about it through the media. No one from the administration or government has contacted us so far,” she said. Akashdeep’s relative Daljit Kaur said denying martyr status to someone who laid down his life for the nation would be unfair.

“Such negligence will discourage other youth from joining the armed forces,” she said.