 Akshay Azad
Jammu, Dec 22: The memories of 1971 Indo-Pak war might have faded from the minds but the remnants continue to haunt Ramo Devi, who still feels the pain given by splinters of anti-personnel landmine, which are yet to be taken out from her body.
Septuagenarian, Ramo Devi of village Gharana had lost her left limb on the sunny morning of 22 'Fagun (February-March)', of 1971, when she had gone for plucking mustard leaves from her field and unwittingly stepped on an anti-personnel landmine. "It torn apart my foot, severely injured my both arms and other body parts but thank god, the splinters didn't pierce into my chest otherwise I would have been killed (Shukar Hai Mera Kaleja Bach Gaya), she said with a little satisfaction.
Narrating about repercussions of that blast on her family, Ramo Devi regretted, "My younger son Mohinder Lal was only 5 months old while Ratno Devi (daughter) was two and half year old at that time. I got bed ridden for many years and during that time my elder daughter Bachno Devi, who was merely 10 years old, take care of my children".
"When Bachno had to go for school, she had to take care of Mohinder, Ratno and also had to make food for family. Her (Bachno) thin arms were unable to lift Mohinder even few minutes and many times, Mohinder fell from her lift but she did everything to raise my children", Ramo said, and regretted that Bachno failed to see the school.
The family had only 3 acres of farm land as source of income and in the lack of any government help, the family had to bear all expenditure of Ramo's treatment. "First time, I had to purchase artificial limb at the cost of Rs. 1200 from Ludhiana, but not a single penny has been so far given to us by state government or Army authorities", she rued, adding with little satisfaction that now the artificial limb has been given free of cost at Jammu.
After 42 years of that unfortunate incident, Ramo Devi said, few splinters of anti personnel landmine had also pierced into my arm and body. "Still those splinters are paining me while the amputated left limb is still giving unending pain. During winters, I have to spend nights, by thumping on the leg, which still pains", she said, adding that she has been getting only widow pension on the name of compensation by government.
The village has two more people who are the victims of hostile relationship between India and Pakistan. Jagdish Raj (32) had lost his father in 1971, when a stray bullet from Pakistan side had hit, instantly killing him, but still the family was awaiting government aid.
Soma Ram (72) of same village had also lost his limb in 1971, when he had gone to his field for irrigation purpose. "I was walking in a small tributary, when a blast took place, leaving me in a pool of blood. I tied my leg with a cloth while another farmer took me to nearby Army post", he said, adding that till date he had not get a single penny from the government's side or from Army authorities.
Every border village is dotted with such landmine victims, but so far neither state government nor Army authorities have taken the case of these hapless victims seriously. |
