05 March,2014 07:22 AM IST | | Vinod Kumar Menon
Trader Daljeet Singh Pradhan went across the border from Manipur to sell his wares on February 11. Nine days later, his mutilated body was found on the Indian side; his family believes he was mistaken for a spy
The ghastly end that a small-time merchant from Mumbai met on the Indo-Myanmar border has left his family in Vikhroli devastated. But the unexplained course of events that trailed his disappearance and slaughter has made their grief almost unbearable.
On February 11, Daljeet Singh Pradhan (36) went across the border from Imphal, Manipur to sell his ware - polish and school accessories in the neighbouring country.
Daljeet was the sole breadwinner for his family of five mother Hardat Kaur, sister Harjeet, six-months pregnant wife Hardeep and a year-old son Devender Singh. His uncle (right) is here to help the family. Pic/Prashant Waydande
Nine days later, his mutilated and burnt body was found this side of the border. He had been accompanied by five other men. One of them, Satvender Singh (32) from Uttar Pradesh, who has a pregnant wife and a son, met the same fate as he.
Daljeet's mother Hardat Kaur (58)
Daljeet was the sole breadwinner for his family of five - mother Hardat Kaur (58), sister Harjeet (21), six-months pregnant wife Hardeep (22), and a year-old son Devender Singh. He shuttled between Mumbai and Manipur capital Imphal regularly to sell his ware.
His pregnant wife Hardeep Kaur (22) and year-old son Devender Singh had been waiting for him to return home in March. Pics/Prashant Waydande
"His business was not doing well here, so he went to Imphal on January 19, two days after his son's first birthday. We had to borrow money for his train ticket," said Hardat.
After the family marks the thirteenth day of Daljeet's demise today, his mother and uncle Joginder Singh (58), who is from Imphal, would go east to receive the Rs 5-lakh compensation announced by the Myanmar government.
"My son was tortured and hacked. I don't know who killed him and why. What did they gain by making my family suffer?" Hardat said. On February 10, Daljeet phoned his mother and promised to send her Rs 14,000.
Daljeet had also spoken to his wife. "He wanted me to register my name at the local hospital since I am pregnant. He also promised me that he'd return to Mumbai before Holi," Harjeet said. Instead, they received the news of his death.
Porous borders
Daljeet's uncle Joginder said, "The border between India and Myanmar is open from 8 am to 4 pm, and people can travel three kilometres on either side.
On February 11, Daljeet, along with five others, had been going to Myanmar for three days to sell their items at large margins. They'd make sure to return before 4 in the evening, because otherwise they could be arrested and put in jail for spying."
But the fear of being judged a spy came true, Joginder said. The local police told the family that both Daljeet and Satvender might have wandered into a "militant camp", where they could have been suspected of being Indian spies, he said.
"Usually, both the Indian and Myanmar security agencies, including the police, do not venture into such areas, and since our men did it accidentally, they were hacked to death," he said.
Hardeep, the wife, said, "This is surely a case of mistaken identity. They had nothing to do with any security agency, nor were they spying on anyone. They were just traders."
Traders' backlash
While a missing complaint was lodged on February 12 at Moreh police station in Manipur, the administration and police realised the fragility of the situation only after the local trade associations called for a three-day bandh and severed crores worth of daily trade between the two countries. But the public outrage couldn't prevent what was to happen.
Nine days later, two charred and mutilated bodies, believed to be of Daljeet's and his companion Satvender's, were found in a deserted area near border pillar no 62 on the Indian side, in Jangnompahi village, which falls under Moreh police station.
"Unlike with other neighbour countries, India's border with Myanmar is not fenced but open, and the Border Security Force (BSF) check posts guard it every 2-5 kilometres. Those involved in the murder could easily have infiltrated and dumped the bodies after killing them in Myanmar," Joginder said. The bodies were cremated in Imphal.
Horror before slaying
The gruesome condition of the bodies indicate that they were thought to be spies and tortured. Both bodies had multiple wounds. Their mouths were gagged with a cloth. Daljeet's left hand was chopped off at the wrist; the remaining part is missing. The body was burnt using an inflammable material. Satvender Singh's skull had been severed off at the back. He had multiple stab wounds, with rags of cloth stuffed in his mouth.
