Army Chief General Bikram Singh meets martyr Hemraj's family in Kosi

Kosi: Army Chief General Bikram Singh met slain Indian soldier Lance Naik Hemraj Singh's family in Kosi Kalan in Uttar Pradesh, two days after the martyr's wife broke her fast. He also paid respect to the martyr in the village. Hemraj was killed and beheaded on January 8 by Pakistani troops in an alleged ceasefire violation by Pakistan in the Poonch sector.

After talking to Hemraj's family members, General Singh said, "From Army's side whatever best we can do, we will do. We are considering the demands made by them, there are some specific to their village, I will speak to the state government about them."

His wife, along with other family members, was on a fast for four days demanding that his head be brought back from Pakistan. They broke their fast on Monday after the Army Chief said he will visit the family.

Hemraj's mother had on Wednesday morning said that she will ask the Army Chief to take care of Hemraj's family, She also said she wanted Hemraj's son to join the Army. "My one son is gone. I'll just ask him to take care of the family. I will definitely send my grandson to the army," she said.

General Singh had on Monday said he would visit the home of Hemraj, whose family had gone on a fast demanding that his head be brought back from Pakistan. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav visited them and assured Rs 25 lakh compensation from the state government. The Central government and the army announced a compensation of Rs 46 lakh, which does not include the compensation announced by the state government.

Earlier on Monday, the fast by the family of the martyr saw politics taking centrestage, with not just Akhilesh Yadav, but Opposition leaders Nitin Gadkari, Sushma Swaraj and Rajnath Singh meeting them. That was followed by the visit of Minister of State Defence, Jitender Singh.

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