Condition of Hemraj's mother, wife deteriorates

According to villagers, Hemraj's mother Meena Devi and wife Dharamvati are on fast demanding head of the slain 13 Rajputana Rifles soldier, who was decapitated by Pakistani troops near the Line of Control (LoC) in Poonch sector of Jammu and Kashmir on January 8.

They went on fast after cremating the headless body of 29-year-old Hemraj on Thursday.

However, Hemraj's uncle Amar Singh said, "Owing to the weakness they are not able to speak and it is difficult to tell the reason of their not taking anything. What I guess is that they are not taking anything out of shock."

The mother and wife of the martyr are being administered intravenous fluid, Dr Mohit Bansal, medical officer of Kosi Kalan hospital said, adding, "Their vitals are stable and blood pressure is normal."

Dr P K Gupta, who also attended on them, said, "Both have developed acute dehydration."

"We have provided best medical treatment to both. The father of Dharmvati (wife of Hemraj) today tried to persuade her to drink milk but she refused," Gupta said.

Meanwhile, SDM Anil Mishra said a helipad is under construction since UP Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav is expected to visit the village tomorrow.

In spite of the fact that family members clearly do not elaborate on the reason of their fast, some villagers say that they will not accept food till they get the head of Hemraj and till the Union as well as the state governments accept the "guilt" of not participating in the funeral.

The pradhan of Khairair village Dharamveer had said yesterday that the two women along with some villagers had called off their fast as certain demands made by them had been fulfilled.

Pakistan Army regulars had infiltrated inside Indian territory in Poonch sector of Jammu and Kashmir and killed and mutilated the bodies of Lance Naiks Sudhakar Singh and Hemraj.