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‘Getting compensation a struggle’ — in Srinagar, a slain policeman’s family fights to survive

While the police officer's family continues to fight to get what's rightfully theirs, such targeted killings have demotivated youth in the Valley from joining the police force.

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Srinagar: On the outskirts of Srinagar, an unarmed police officer was killed earlier this year by armed terrorists in broad daylight. Months later, his family is yet to receive even half the compensation promised by the government.

Even as the cop’s family is still fighting hard to get what is rightfully theirs, such targeted killings have instilled fear in the minds of the locals and demotivated the youth in the area from joining the police force.

The martyred police officer is survived by his wife, a son and a daughter. His son, in his mid-20s, is a daily wage worker who earns Rs 500-600 per day.

Talking to ThePrint Monday on condition of anonymity, a member of the slain cop’s family said, “We fail to understand why he was targeted. He was a small-time employee in the police department and we are yet to get an answer to that.”

The family claimed they were assured a compensation of Rs 1 crore, including insurance, but had received only about Rs 21 lakh so far. “And it has been a struggle and a pain for us to even get that partial amount. There was so much documentation process that we barely stayed home,” the member said.

Even the amount received by the family so far has gone towards paying loans that the slain policeman had taken. “He built this house on his own. He had taken a loan of Rs 14.9 lakh from the department and Rs 5-6 lakh from the market,” the family member added.


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Denied job on compassionate grounds

Apart from the compensation, a member of the family was supposed to get a job under the SRO scheme, now known as J&K Rehabilitation Assistance Scheme 2022, on compassionate grounds. However, the victim’s son was denied a job under the pretext that he was married and no longer dependent on his father, the family claimed, adding that it took them nearly one and a half months to get the succession certificate.

Youth scared to join police force

Pointing out that another officer in a nearby area was also killed in a similar manner, the family said their mistake was that they served the J&K Police. “Now there is doubt in the minds of the young about joining the police force. I don’t think many of the youth will join. Ab dar bahut zyada hai (there is more fear now).”

However, the family said, the department had been supportive and senior police officers had visited the family after the incident. “Bunkers were set up the very next day in the area. That has helped with the security. But had they put it before, considering that so many people from this area are in the police force, he would have still been alive,” they pointed out.

Despite bunkers, fear still prevails in the area post the terror attack. When ThePrint walked around the area and interacted with the locals many echoed the same view that such killings have demotivated the youth from joining the police force.

A shopkeeper near the house, who did not want to be named, said, “Everyone is more careful now. People are scared. New people don’t want to join the police as much. After the evening namaz, barely anyone walks out.”

Two friends, who were walking by in the neighbourhood said, “things were bad before as well, but now people are scared. Many don’t want to join the police department.”

‘Terrorism is dying’

However, Senior Superintendent of Police, Srinagar, Rakesh Balwal, believes that there is still enthusiasm in the youth to join the forces. “When the Agniveer camp was held last week, youth turned up in huge numbers. That enthusiasm is still there.”

Some fear is bound to be there generally after such attacks, but the police have increased security in the area and taken up various confidence building measures, he told ThePrint Tuesday.

Explaining the issue, Balwal said, “They (attackers) look for soft targets. They can’t do any big attacks nowadays. The recruitment (of terrorists) is less and it (terrorism) is in the dying phase. That is why they try target killings.”

Balwal dismissed as baseless the allegations that the officer had been targeted as he had tortured and killed people during protests in the Valley. “People say it to just throw allegations and justify the act,” he said.

(Edited by Geethalakshmi Ramanathan)


Also Read: ‘Give us a roof, water’: With Paharis assured ST tag, J&K’s Gujjars, Bakarwals fear more neglect


 

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