Following the conclusion of Operation Sindoor and the establishment of a ceasefire, Jaswant Singh, 33, has been haunted by tragedy. A drone strike on his village, Khai Phemeki, located in the Ferozepur border district of Punjab, occurred on the evening of May 9, seriously injuring his parents. His mother passed away from her injuries on May 13 of the previous year, while his father succumbed after a prolonged, painful two-month struggle on July 1. “I was left all alone in the world,” Jaswant reflects.
Jaswant sustained injuries from drone debris that struck his legs, leaving him with persistent pain that intensifies when he attempts to walk quickly. Following the attack, he relocated from his family home to live with his paternal uncles in the nearby village of Varyamwala.
In the wake of the drone attack, which occurred amid India’s military action against terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir in retaliation for the killing of tourists in Pahalgam, the border regions were under significant threat.
On that fateful evening, Jaswant recalls witnessing numerous drones in the sky over the Ferozepur Cantonment and surrounding areas. Although Khai Phemeki is situated 25-30 kilometers from the international border, drones were observed even at that distance.
Currently, Jaswant manages the family’s 5-acre agricultural land in Khai Phemeki, but his injuries necessitate reliance on laborers for most tasks. The family’s four buffaloes also suffered burns in the incident and later perished, leading Jaswant to refrain from acquiring more livestock.
Medical professionals have recommended surgery to improve his mobility once his wounds have healed, but Jaswant is hesitant to proceed. “I spent several weeks in the hospital… Now, I’m not interested in surgery. My parents are gone, and I’m just trying to move forward. I cannot afford to be bedridden again,” he explains.
The financial burden is another concern for Jaswant. “The Punjab government covered the medical expenses related to the injuries on May 9. But who will pay for the future costs? I have no idea, and I lack the energy to chase after answers. Life continues… let it be,” he states.
The Punjab government provided Rs 10 lakh to the family following Sukhwinder’s death, which included Rs 5 lakh from the Chief Minister’s ex-gratia relief fund and another Rs 5 lakh from the discretionary fund of then Rajya Sabha MP Sanjeev Arora, now an MLA and Punjab minister. Villagers report that they had to protest to secure additional compensation for the family after the government initially offered only Rs 5 lakh.
By the time his father passed away in July, Jaswant claims that public attention had shifted. “No compensation was provided for my father’s death,” he asserts.
Jaswant, who completed his education up to Class 12, mentions that he was promised a job by district administration officials following his mother’s death, but this promise was never fulfilled.
Senior BJP leader Rana Gurmeet Singh Sodhi criticizes the Aam Aadmi Party government for making Jaswant wait for adequate compensation and employment. “Typically, the state government is responsible for supporting war casualties and providing compensation through the disaster relief fund allocated by the Union government,” he states.
Anumeet Heera Sodhi, another BJP leader from Ferozepur, also criticizes the Bhawant Singh Mann government, claiming, “Jaswant’s life has been utterly devastated. The Punjab government must recognize its fundamental responsibilities.”
However, Ferozepur Deputy Commissioner Deepshikha Sharma denies any wrongdoing on their part, asserting, “Compensation for both parents was disbursed and their medical expenses were covered.” Inquiries regarding Jaswant’s claims about the promised job went unanswered.
As India commemorates one year since Operation Sindoor, Jaswant expresses pride in the achievements of the Indian armed forces, yet laments, “But look at my life, which has completely crumbled… We have become casualties of this Indo-Pak conflict through no fault of our own… The government should not overlook victims like us.”
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