Ferozepur farmer injured in drone attack post-Operation Sindoor succumbs weeks after his wife's death
The deceased was identified as Lakhwinder Singh, 55, who had sustained 72 per cent burns in the incident which took place in Khai Pheme Ki village. His wife Sukhwinder Kaur, 50, who was also injured in the attack, died on May 13 after sustaining 100 per cent burns.
On the evening of May 9, multiple drones were sighted over the Ferozepur cantonment and adjoining areas amid heightened India-Pakistan tensions following Operation Sindoor, India's military operation which targeted terror bases in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) on May 7 in retaliation to the Pahalgam attack.
One drone reportedly fell in the verandah of Lakhwinder Singh's house, triggering a blaze that left him and his wife fighting for life. Sharp parts from the drone injured their son, Jaswant Singh alias Monu, 24, in his legs. The injured family members were first taken to a local hospital in Ferozepur before the parents were shifted to DMCH the next morning.
On Wednesday, Jaswant said 'Both my parents are gone. We have become victims of this Indo-Pak conflict for no fault of ours. My father died on Tuesday night and the Ludhiana police station concerned was informed immediately, but no one from the administration has arrived yet. We have not even received the body. Is this how the Punjab Government treats its citizens, especially those who are victims of war? It is frustrating.'
He pointed out that their house, buffaloes, and car were also damaged in the incident. 'What is my fault? All I am left with is five acres of land for farming… I am still recovering from the injuries in my legs.'
Khai Pheme Ki village lies about 25-30 km from the International Border, but drones managed to fly deep inside the residential area before a ceasefire was announced on the evening of May 10.
Earlier, the Punjab Government had provided the family a compensation of Rs 10 lakh after Sukhwinder Kaur's death — Rs 5 lakh from the Chief Minister's ex gratia relief fund and Rs 5 lakh from the discretionary fund of then Rajya Sabha MP Sanjeev Arora, who is now the MLA of Ludhiana West, where DMCH is located. Arora is also part of DMCH managing society.
Heera Sodhi, BJP leader from Ferozepur and son of former Guru Har Sahai MLA Rana Gurmeet Singh Sodhi, demanded that the state government step up its responsibility. 'We demand a government job for Jaswant and appropriate compensation. His life has completely been destroyed. Compensating war casualties is the responsibility of the state. The Centre has also announced Rs 10 lakh for Sukhwinder Kaur, and we will ensure more compensation is granted for Lakhwinder too. But the Punjab government needs to realise its basic responsibility,' he said.
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