BSF officers raise funds for the family of colleague killed in Pakistan firing

Jitendra Singh (left) with his family on the occasion of his son's first birthday | Samundra Singh / ThePrint

A sum of Rs 2.38 lakh has already been raised by 100 BSF officers. More are joining the initiative and the money will given to the family every month.

New Delhi: Nearly 100 BSF officers have come together to extend financial help to the family of one of their colleagues, who was killed in cross-border firing last month.

Assistant commandant Jitendra Singh was killed on 12 June during firing from the Pakistan side in Ramgarh sector of Jammu and Kashmir.

A BSF officer told ThePrint “an amount of Rs 2.38 lakh was given to the family last weekend”. Those who have contributed money so far are from a batch junior to Jitendra’s. More officers are joining the initiative and then money will be given to the family on a monthly basis.

“A total of 300 officers will contribute Rs 200 every month,” the officer said.

On the evening of 12 June, three soldiers were injured in an unprovoked firing by Pakistan in the Samba area. Jitendra Singh, who was returning to his camp, was informed about the incident. As soon as he reached the place along with a few other soldiers, he was killed in another round of firing from the Pakistan side.

The 34-year-old officer had joined BSF in 2011. On the fateful day, Jitendra had gone to see off his family — his parents, his wife and three-year-old son — at the Jammu railway station before returning to his work.

Jitendra’s father Samundra Singh said, “My son was an all-rounder. He was interested in games. He had received his PhD degree a few months back.”

“He wanted to do something for the country. This is the reason that despite excelling in so many fields, he chose to be a soldier and do something for the country,” Jitendra’s father said.

Family members say they are thankful to Jitendra’s colleagues for what they have done so far. “More than the money, we are grateful to them for visiting us and taking stock of our condition,” Samundra said.