Seven years after ex-serviceman's death, wife to get compensation

Seven years after losing her husband was killed in action and posthumously awarded the Ashok Chakra, Bangalore resident Suhasini will receive the piece of land she was promised as compensation years ago. Suhasini’s compensation comes after the Central government intervened in the matter and asked the Karnataka government to ensure she gets her due, IBNLive reported. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah confirmed the same as he said, “I have directed the revenue department to look into the matter.” “I find it hard to believe that the government would act overnight due to media. I don’t want to react till I actually get the papers of land in my hand. Announcing that it will be done is the first part, I want them to act on it. I’m indeed hopeful of a quick sorting out of this case now,” Suhasini told IBNLive. [caption id=“attachment_1550527” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Screengrab of a photo of Late Colonel Vasanth. IBNLive[/caption] In 2007, Vasanth Venugopal, who was then Commanding Officer of the 9 Maratha Light Infantry unit when he was caught in an encounter in Kashmir where he and his team eliminated eight militants before a bullet hit him. He was cremated with full state honours in Bangalore and was posthumously honoured with the Ashok Chakra — the highest gallantry award in peace time. Speaking to IBNLive about her experience dealing with authorities all these years to get the compensation guaranteed to her, Suhasini said: “It was very very humiliating to me. I was embarrassed to be actually going and talking to them and saying please I don’t know where this has gone yet.” “Its definitely too late. Its been too harrowing. I really wish they hadn’t done this because dealing with the pain of loss of a loved one… this added to that. We didn’t need this. They just need to give us what we’re due and help us heal our lives. I still don’t have a letter from the govt acknowledging Vasanth’s sacrifice. You can say what is a letter anyway but at least it affirms the fact that the state values his service,” she added.