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Punjab

Family cremates body of Shaurya Chakra awardee after assurance from Administration

JAGMOHAN SINGH | October 17, 2020 05:56 PM

AMRITSAR: Tearful adieu given to Shaurya Chakra awardee Balwinder Singh Sandhu, who was shot dead by two unknown assailants in Punjab''s Tarn Taran district. Earlier, in the morning, family  refused to cremate the body unless the killers are arrested and security to family.

After assurance from the Tarn Taran district administration about the early arrest of killers, family agreed to cremate the body.  Administration also assured them about recommendation of Govt job request to State Government for one of the family member. Meanwhile police department provided them three gunmen for security to family.

Cremation was also attended by the MLA Sukhpal Singh Bhullar Khemkaran assembly constituency who assured the family to take up their issues with the state chief minister Captain Amarinder Singh.

The 62-year-old Sandhu who fought terrorism in Punjab was shot dead in the district on Friday, months after the government withdrew his security cover. The motorcycle-borne men pumped four bullets into him when he was at his office adjoining his home at Bhikhiwind.

Sandhu had fought against terrorism in the state for years, facing scores of terror attacks during the height of Khalistani militancy.

His security cover was withdrawn by the state government a year ago on the recommendation of Tarn Taran police, his brother Ranjit had said, adding their entire family had remained on the hit list of terrorists.

Sandhu''s wife Jagdish Kaur had on Friday said it was the "handiwork of terrorists", maintaining that their family did not have any personal enmity with anyone.

Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh had condoled Sandhu''s death and set up a special investigation team headed by Ferozpur Deputy Inspector General of Police to probe the killing.

The chief minister said the SIT will probe the killing, taking all possibilities into account. The guilty will not be spared, he had said.

The Tarn Taran braveheart had featured in some documentaries. Inspired by Sandhu and his family, many people followed him and defended themselves from terror attacks. He was awarded Shaurya Chakra in 1993

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