Kin of slain STF men yet to see compensation

Laxman Prasad Sharma,Uma Shanker Yadav,Girish Chandra,Brajesh Yadav,Rajesh Chauhan and Ishwar Dev Singh were gunned down by Thokia and his men in a retaliatory ambush on July 22,2007 — immediately after the STF gunned down dacoit Dadua in Chitrakoot. Later,Thokia was killed in a police encounter in August,2008.

“I have met several senior police officers but nobody could explain why we have not received the money,” said Nav Ratan Sharma,elder brother of Constable Laxman Prasad Sharma. He is now thinking of moving court.

Sharma’s wife Hemlata and her two children are currently staying in government quarters in Ghaziabad. “I have come to know that they will have to leave the quarters once Laxman’s son reaches the age of 16,” said Nav Ratan — a technician in the Railways.

Girish Chandra’s younger brother Pramod Nagar said,“In the last five months,I have met the DGP twice. Every time I have been assured,but nothing has happened so far.” Chandra’s wife Anita Devi lives in Ghaziabad with her two children.

“I have almost lost hope of receiving the compensation. The families of all the six commandoes are in touch with each other and take turns to meet senior politicians and police officers. They say it seems the chief minister has forgotten about her announcement,” said Ashok Singh,Constable Ishwar Dev Singh’s son. A graduate,he has applied for the post of sub-inspector.

Rajesh Chauhan’s wife Ravi Chauhan and Head Constable Uma Shankar’s wife Geeta Devi maintained there is no one to listen to them. “I have met senior officers and inquired about the compensation but never received a specific reply,” said Ravi Chauhan. “No one is ready to look into the matter since it is linked with the CM,” said Brajesh Yadav’s brother Avadesh.