Batla hero’s family waits for pension

One year back on this day, five synchronized blasts ripped through Delhi, killing 26 people. Nearly nine months after Delhi Police Inspector Mohan Chand Sharma who was posthumously conferred the Ashok Chakra for his valour and sacrifice, his family is still waiting for the cash component of the reward, which also includes a monthly pension, reports Tushar Srivastava.

One year back on this day, five synchronized blasts ripped through Delhi, killing 26 people. A week later, investigations into the case led Delhi Police Inspector Mohan Chand Sharma and his team to a building called Batla House in Jamia Nagar, Delhi, where Sharma was fatally injured in a shootout. Two suspected Indian Mujahideen terrorists, Atif Amin and Mohammad Sajid, also died in the encounter.

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Nearly nine months after he was posthumously conferred the Ashok Chakra for his valour and sacrifice, his family is still waiting for the cash component of the reward, which also includes a monthly pension.

“We had received a letter from the Home Ministry informing us that the Ashok Chakra would be conferred on my husband. It would also include Rs 25 lakh cash and a monthly pension, it had stated,” said Sharma’s wife, Maya.

After running from one government department to the other, Sharma’s family says they have almost given up as no is ready to help.

“We’ve met various officials but no one has the time to listen. We feel humiliated by their behaviour. My husband laid down his life for the country. We didn’t ask anyone for the money, the government had promised it. Requesting officials for something that is due to us makes us feel like we are begging and we are not going to do it,” Maya said.

The encounter was alleged by some to be fake, but a subsequent investigation by the National Human Rights Commission had found this allegation to be untrue.