Author: Faizan Haidar
Publication: The Pioneer
Date: December 12, 2007
The plight of family members of victims of Parliament attack is pathetic. Terrorists killed their kin. Equally worrying for them is getting compensation announced by the Government, they are asked to pay bribe. "For the past six years, we have been running from pillar to post to get files cleared but at every department we had to give bribe. We are relatives of the martyrs and such a behaviour by the officials pains us," said Brahm Prakash, brother-in-law of Head Constable Bijender Singh of Delhi Police who was the only martyr of the 2001 Parliament attack case, who died in hospital due to doctors' negligence.
"I am going to Faridabad again on Tuesday to get the permission for construction of a building for the petrol pump. I leave my home at 8 am at every second day for various pending works," he added. Brahm Prakash said the Government had promised a flat, a petrol pump and a job for one member of the family, but even after six years, nothing has happened.
"It would have been better if the Government had not announced the compensation at all. Hanging of Afzal Guru is another matter which family members of victims look forward to," he further said.
Recounting the unfortunate incident, Brahm said Bijender was admitted to the hospital at 12 noon and operated upon at 8 pm. He himself told the doctors that there was a bullet in his chest but the doctors did not respond. On the fateful day, Bijender Singh saved the lives of two officers by shielding them behind a statue while indiscriminate firing was going on between the terrorists and the police. Bijender (42) was driving the car of Vice-President Krishan Kant when the attack took place. He confronted the terrorists and was shot in the chest at point blank range. He took his wallet out of his pocket and asked one of his colleagues to inform his family. Bijender had joined Delhi Armed Police in the Seventh battalion in 1985 after serving the Army for seven years. He entered VIP security in 1998 after serving for more than 10 years in PCR.
His widow Jaiwati and his sons, Vipin and Sachin are now leading a life full of miseries, as they don't have any source of income. His three daughters, Seema, Meena and Neera were married after his death with the help of the Rs 14-lakh received as compensation from the Central and State Governments. The family resides in Molarband village near Badarpur.
Like Bijender's family, members of Matbar Singh Negi's family, another martyr of the December 13, 2001 attack on Parliament are losing hope to get full compensation. Negi always told his family that he would do something great for his country and he kept his promise on the fateful day. Negi (54) was on duty at Gate No 11 in the Parliament complex on December 13. He was a security man of the Watch and Ward department of Parliament. When the terrorists attacked, he ran towards Gate No 8 in pursuit of the fifth terrorist even though he was unarmed. He received three bullet injuries in his stomach and was rushed to Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital. He died three days later, leaving behind his wife, two daughters and a son. Negi had joined the Watch and Ward department of Parliament House in the '80s after serving in the Garhwal Rifles in the Indian Army for many years. Negi came from Pauri Garhwal in Uttaranchal.