A pall of gloom descended on Jangpur village near Mullanpur Dakha after the news of the death of Daljit Singh, who was gunned down besides four other Indo Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) personnel by his colleague in Chhattisgarh’s Narayanpur district, reached his native place on Wednesday.
Daljit is survived by his wife, Harpreet Kaur, 10-year-old daughter, Jasmine, and seven-year-old son, Abhijot. Daljit’s elder brother Manjit Singh is also serving in the ITBP. Daljit had returned to duty a month ago after spending holidays with the family.
“I had spoken with Daljit last night before going to sleep,” said Harpreet, who works as a contractual employee in the library of Punjab Agricultural University.
Village residents and Daljit’s kin expressed anger over his killing.
Village sarpanch Amarjit Singh Cheema said, “Had Daljit died on the frontlines, it would have given solace to the family. But being shot by a colleague is a betrayal,” said Cheema.
{{/usCountry}}Village sarpanch Amarjit Singh Cheema said, “Had Daljit died on the frontlines, it would have given solace to the family. But being shot by a colleague is a betrayal,” said Cheema.
{{/usCountry}}Daljit’s father Gurdev, also an ITBP jawan, had laid down his life in 1999 during a counter insurgency operation in Srinagar.