Martyr's family refuses to cremate him, demands job, relents later

The family of police officer Baljit Singh, who was killed fighting terrorists in Dinanagar, refused to cremate him till the state government hands over appointment letters of SP rank to his son and post of tehsildar to his daughters but later decided to drop their main demand following assurances from authorities.
The family agreed to abandon the main demand of jobs to deceased family following assurance given by Jalandhar zone Police IG Lok Nath Angra in a meeting with them at their residence, son of slain SP (Detective) Baljit Singh, Maninder Singh told PTI here tonight.
He told that IG has assured him to consider all their demands sympathetically after the cremation of Baljit Singh.

The family has decided to cremate Baljit Singh tomorrow at 11:30 AM. Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal is also expected to attend the funeral.
Earlier, Kulwant Kaur, wife of the slain SP (Detective), had said the family had suffered a lot at the time of the death of her father-in-law, police inspector Achhar Singh, to get appointment for her husband and he had to wait for two years to get the job.
Baljit Singh was a son of police inspector Achhar Singh, who too was killed by militants during the height of militancy in Punjab in 1984.

Kaur also charged that the state government did not provide sophisticated weapon to the police force for fighting militants.

Meanwhile, former Punjab Chief minister Amarinder Singh today visited the house of slain Baljit Singh and said that state government should accept their genuine demand of job to the son of slain SP (Detective) who laid his life for the sake of country.
He accused Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal of playing dirty politics in terrorist attack in Punjab.
President of Istri Akali Dal Bibi Jagir Kaur, former Akali Minister Upinderjit Kaur and BJP leader Manoranjan Kalia also visited the house of Baljit Singh to condole his death.
Seven persons - four civilians and three policemen including Baljit, were killed by heavily-armed militants who stormed a police station in the district yesterday.

Yesterday, the Punjab government had announced that the next of kin of each member of the police force who lost their lives in the operation would be given government job.
In addition, the bereaved families would also be given financial assistance to the tune of Rs 10 lakh each.
Baljit had joined the force in 1985 as ASI following the death of his father. He served as SHO Phagwara and with Vigilance department in Mansa before taking up the post of Deputy Commandant in 7th IRB Battalion.
Baljit is survived by son, Maninder Singh (24), daughters Parminder Kaur (22) and Ravinder Kaur (20).