A deeply emotional and poignant stand has been taken by the family of Agniveer Akashdeep Singh, a young soldier from Punjab who tragically died in Jammu, as they have resolutely refused to immerse his ashes until the government officially declares him a martyr. This heart-wrenching decision, coming after Akashdeep, aged 20, lost his life due to a bullet injury while on duty in Jammu on May 15, has brought into sharp focus the ongoing debate surrounding the status and benefits accorded to Agniveers who make the supreme sacrifice in service to the nation.
Akashdeep Singh hailed from Kothe Chahal village in the Kotkapura constituency of Faridkot district. He had joined the Indian Army two years prior under the Agnipath scheme, which enlists young individuals for a four-year period of service as Agniveers. He was serving with the Punjab Regiment when he sustained the fatal injury. His mortal remains were brought to his native village and cremated with full military honors on Friday, May 16. However, despite the solemn ceremony, the family feels their son has not received the full recognition they believe he deserves.
Akashdeep’s father, Balwinder Singh, voiced the family’s deep distress, stating, “We are upset with the Punjab government’s approach. No announcement has been made so far. Speaker Kultar Singh Sandhwan did come to our house and even attended the cremation, but there has been no word from the chief minister.” This statement highlights a perceived silence and lack of official acknowledgment from the state government, which is causing profound anguish to the grieving family.
His mother, Karamjit Kaur, expressed her anguish even more pointedly. She lamented, “My son died while on duty. People who die after drinking spurious liquor get government jobs and Rs 10 lakh compensation, but my brave son, who left his BCom studies to serve the nation, has not even been acknowledged. The CM has not said a single word.” Her words draw a stark comparison to other incidents of government compensation, emphasizing the family’s feeling that Akashdeep’s sacrifice is being undervalued by the state authorities. The family also questioned the very purpose of the Agnipath recruitment scheme if those who die in service are not recognized with the status and honors of a martyr.
The case of Agniveer Akashdeep Singh has drawn parallels to an earlier incident in October 2023, involving the death of another Agniveer, Amritpal Singh, from Kotli Kalan village in Mansa district. Amritpal Singh, aged 19, reportedly died by suicide, but his death quickly evolved into a major political issue in Punjab. In that instance, Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann personally visited the family and announced a substantial compensation of Rs 1 crore along with a government job for one family member. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) supremo Arvind Kejriwal had also publicly stated that the Punjab government had taken care of the soldier and his family when, in their view, the Centre had not. This earlier incident, and the state government’s robust response to it, has set a precedent in the minds of Akashdeep’s family, leading to their profound disappointment with the current “silence” in their son’s case.
When queried about the situation, Poonamdeep Kaur, the Deputy Commissioner of Faridkot, confirmed that the Army had initiated a court of inquiry to determine the exact cause of Akashdeep Singh’s death, which was reportedly due to a bullet injury to his head. She noted that the tehsildar had visited the family when the body arrived, and the sub-divisional magistrate of Kotkapura had attended the cremation. However, she added, “The cause of death is under inquiry by the Army, and as such, we await the findings. I am not aware of any precedent regarding compensation for Agniveer deaths by the Punjab government.” She concluded by stating, “We stand with the family in their hour of grief.”
The central issue at play is the distinction between “martyr” status and the specific benefits allocated to Agniveers under the Agnipath scheme, particularly in cases of death in the line of duty. Under the Agnipath scheme, if an Agniveer dies in service, their family is entitled to several forms of central government compensation. This typically includes a non-contributory life insurance sum of Rs 48 lakh, an ex-gratia payment of Rs 44 lakh, the balance of their “Seva Nidhi” package (which comprises their own contribution with an equal matching contribution from the government) along with accrued interest, and a contribution of Rs 8 lakh from the Armed Forces Battle Casualty Fund. Additionally, the family receives full pay for the remaining tenure from the date of death until the completion of the four-year term. The total central government compensation is stated to be approximately Rs 1 crore to Rs 1.5 crore, varying by circumstances.
However, a key point of contention and a source of the family’s demand is that unlike regular soldiers, Agniveers do not receive pension benefits or ex-servicemen benefits. While a parliamentary panel had previously recommended that the families of Agniveers who die during operational service should receive the same benefits as those provided to the next of kin of “regular” soldiers, this recommendation has not been fully implemented.
The Punjab government, under Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, has indeed enhanced the ex-gratia amount for families of martyred soldiers, raising it from Rs 50 lakh to Rs 1 crore. This policy, however, is for “martyred soldiers,” and the crux of the current dispute lies in whether Agniveer Akashdeep Singh will be officially recognized with this status by the state. The family’s refusal to immerse the ashes is a powerful symbolic gesture, a desperate plea for recognition and honor for their son’s sacrifice, urging the state government to make an explicit declaration of martyrdom and extend the commensurate benefits. This situation underscores the emotional and political complexities that arise when national service schemes intersect with state-level welfare policies and the deeply held sentiments of grieving families.