Families recall memories of martyred CRPF jawans

Kolkata: Slain Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) jawan Sudip Biswas of Palashipara Nadia was planning to get married soon. His family members had even fixed a match for him. But they did not know his fate was otherwise. With his death in the deadly terror attack at Pulwama in Jammu and Kashmir on Thursday afternoon they went into shock. Being the lone member of the family Sudip had called up his father to inquire of his health in the morning.

His next call to other family members was at around 3 pm. Neither Sudip nor his family members knew it was his last call to them. All they heard was a deafening sound through the loudspeaker of the phone the moment he started talking. After the heavy noise over the phone, the call got disconnected. After sometime Sudip’s family members switched on the TV only to become anxious. They called him repeatedly but the call never got connected again.

Sudip’s father Sannyasi Biswas said, “Informing his journey from Jammu to Srinagar he told me to not to worry as he would have food after reaching the barrack.”

Meanwhile chief minister Mamata Banerjee called up another slain CRPF jawan Bablu Santra’s family at Bauria in Howrah to offer condolences. Survived by wife and a child Bablu, who was about to retire from the CRPF next year, was transferred to Kashmir from Himachal Pradesh recently. His family members said that a call from the CRPF reached them in the evening when his wife’s mobile number was sought. On Friday morning Bablu’s death was confirmed over a call. Trinamul Congress ministers Aroop Roy, Lakshmi Ratan Shukla and Rajiv Banerjee visited the Santras later.

Sudip’s brother-in-law Samapta Biswas said, “I was trying to take care of the family since watching the news on TV. I wished it was not true. It was around 9 am today a call came from the CRPF confirming his death.” After passing the higher secondary examination Sudip had joined the CRPF four years ago. He was initally posted at the Jangalmahal.

Later Sudip underwent training in Kerala before getting posted in Srinagar. He last came home on leave in December when his marriage was finalised, Mr Biswas added in tears. Sudip’s sister Jhumpa said, “He dreamt of building a small house before getting married. But his dreams remained unfulfilled.” Meanwhile chief minister Mamata Banerjee called up another slain CRPF jawan Bablu Santra’s family at Bauria in Howrah to offer condolences. Survived by wife and a child Bablu, who was about to retire from the CRPF next year, was transferred to Kashmir from Himachal Pradesh recently. His family members said that a call from the CRPF reached them in the evening when his wife’s mobile number was sought. On Friday morning Bablu’s death was confirmed over a call. Trinamul Congress ministers Aroop Roy, Lakshmi Ratan Shukla and Rajiv Banerjee visited the Santras later.

Ms Banerjee said, “There should be no politics in such a situation. How many sacrifices will our country have to make? How much patience and tolerance have to be shown? Instead of doing a show we have to think after taking a strong decision so that no one can sntach a son from his mother.”