AGRA: Scores of Agra residents blocked NH-2 connecting the national capital to east India for over six hours, demanding compensation and land to erect the statue of
BSF jawan Devender Singh Baghel, who was killed during the ceasefire violation by Pakistani army along the International Border (IB) in Samba district of Jammu and Kashmir, on Monday night.
Devender's body was brought to Agra on Wednesday morning at his village Lakhanpur of Sikandra police jurisdiction. Father of two kids, the jawan was posted in Jammu and Kashmir 173 battalion since 2015, and was on duty at forward post in Manguchak area on Monday night when Pakistani troops resorted to unprovoked and indiscriminate firing, during which a stray bullet went through the loophole of his picket and killed him.
As soon the jawan’s body arrived in his native village, the victim’s family and villagers took it to NH-2 and staged massive protest. Devi Lal Baghel, the elder brother of jawan, who is also in central armed police force, demanded land to cremate Devender and erect his statue apart from petrol pump, cash compensation and free education for Devender’s two kids.
As soon the jawan’s body arrived in his native village, the victim’s family and villagers took it to NH-2 and staged massive protest.
Taking cognizance of massive road blocked, district administration officials and police teams rushed to NH-2 in a bid to persuade the family and opened the 10-km long traffic jam. The relatives of Devendar blocked the NH-2 at around 11:20am and continued to sit along with body on highway till 6pm.
Their protest has immensely troubled commuters who have stuck in jam for hours, said the official.
Speaking to TOI additional district magistrate Satya Prakash said, “The government always gives compensation to families of jawan killed in action or while guarding the country border and at local level. We are also ready to help the family, but Devender’s family is making an illogical demand to hand over major chunk of government (Agra development authority) acquired land to them to build statue and name that area on his name.”
“Their protest has immensely troubled commuters who have stuck in jam for hours. After a lot of persuasion, we finally managed to calm down the relatives and villagers, and now are executing cremation of the jawan. Further, we will look into possible options to erect statue, but we will help the family when they need,” he added.
Devender Singh Baghel