Even as the authorities announce compensation of Rs 60 lakh for the family of constable Vilas Shinde, Saurabh Vaktania speaks to other police families that have not received their just dues
Madhvi and her children have been asked to vacate their police quarters. Pics/Datta Kumbhar
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'My husband is a martyr'
Killed in action: Police Naik Gajendra Naik (43)
What happened: Attacked by juvenile criminal
Survived by: Widow Madhvi and a son and daughter
Compensation: Nothing, so far
After serving as a police naik for 22 years, Gajendra Naik was killed on duty last January, as he was escorting a juvenile criminal to the remand home. In a bid to escape, the minor hit Naik on the head, and causing him to fall off a bridge. Naik fell on his head and died on the spot. The juvenile was arrested a few days later.
“My husband died on duty while chasing the accused, and they say he is not a martyr,” said his widow, Madhvi. The family got some support from fellow cops, but no politician had come forward to help them. Now, the family has been asked to vacate the house they have been living in for three years.
Currently, the family is dependent on the R10,000 they get in monthly pension. “With two kids, how will I survive on such an amount? When my husband died no one came forward. We did not get a single rupee. Now after three years, I have to vacate this flat. How will I buy a flat in Mumbai? What about my children’s future?” said Madhvi, who lives at the police quarters in Bandra west with her children — daughter Shravani who is in Std XII and son Indrajeet who is in Std IX.
‘We just want some respect’
Killed in action: Assistant Sub-Inspector Dattu Sarnobat (53)
What happened: Car jacking incident
Survived by: 41-year-old widow, Kavita and 2 sons
Compensation: Nothing, so far
In August 2012, ASI Sarnobat from Kherwadi police station got badly injured while trying to prevent a car jacking episode at Bandra bridge. He later succumbed to the injuries. Four years later, his family is yet to receive any compensation.
Also Read: Mumbai: Tempers soar as constable Vilas Shinde, assaulted by helmetless bikers, dies
Kavita and her son Vikas, at their residence in Andheri. Pic/Prabhanjan Dhanu
“We only want respect and support from the authorities,” said Sarnobat’s widow Kavita. “What were all the authorities doing when my husband died?”
Kavita said the family had also been slapped with a one-month notice to vacate their house after her husband’s death. “It’s only when my brother got into the police service that the flat stayed with us,” said Kavita. She added, “They had also promised to install a memorial in our village in Satara, and give us a flat, but nothing has been done.”
‘Did they make promises for publicity?’
Killed in action: Head Constable Ajitkumar Khawle (54)
What happened: Demolition accident
Survived by: Widow Ankita and two sons
Compensation: Nothing, so far
Head Constable Ajitkumar Khawle was sent for demolition duty in January. As the structure was under demolition, he saw a rod falling and pushed some BMC officials out of harm’s way. The rod hit him on the head instead, and he died in hospital a month later. While the older son had to drop out of college to help support the family, the younger son is still traumatised by the death of his father.
Ankita Khawle said the family is yet to even get the pension
Khawle had served the police department for over 20 years and was about to retire in a few years. As he died on duty during a BMC demolition, civic officials promised to pay for his treatment and offered his family members a job in BMC, but none of the promises were fulfilled. His widow Ankita said, “Forget about the job, BMC did not even give a single rupee for treatment.
Read Story: Mumbai: Traffic cop asks biker for personal details, gets beaten with stick
But we got support from police department. Over R15 lakh was paid by the then police commissioner, Mr Ahmed Javed. He regularly came and visited my husband in hospital. If the BMC cannot give anything, why did they declare it at the time? Was it just for publicity? Even the pension has not started, even though the authorities promised to start it by this month.”
One year on, still waiting for a job
Died on duty: Constable Manoj Kadam (45)
What happened: Heart attack
Survived by: Widow Saraswati
Compensation: Not eligible
Constable Manoj Kadam passed away in July 2015, after he suffered a heart attack while on duty. Because he died of natural causes, his family is not eligible for pension or compensation. His widow Saraswati had been promised a job under compassionate grounds, but she is still waiting for the job. She is already 45 years old and has just six months left before she crosses the age limit for a job.
Since her husband’s death, Saraswati has been waiting to get a job
Saraswati said, “I am alone. I applied for the job but it is still pending. Only six months are left and if I don’t get the job in that time, I won’t be eligible. People think government and police jobs are lucrative but that it not the case. I don’t get pension and I even have to pay rent to live in the police quarters. I will have nowhere to go if I don’t get a job in six months. My husband died on duty, but forget about money, he is not even given respect. It really hurts me.”
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