His family was denied pension for five years after terrorists shot him dead while on duty! Thirty-four years after his death, the family is still not aware whether his killers have been brought to justice? His younger son is desperately fighting for recognising his father’s martyrdom! The martyr is none other than Late A K Raina, the then Deputy Director of Food & Supplies, J&K Government, Srinagar who was shot dead by terrorists in his Office Chambers on March 20, 1990. Raina’s only fault was that he was in the line of duty and wanted to ensure uninterrupted food supplies channel to the residents of Kashmir, who were otherwise facing hardships on account of curfew, which was clamped in most parts of the Valley at that time.
Despite continuous “ strict’’ curfew in Srinagar, terrorists had easily managed to enter his office, which was incidentally at a stone’s throw distance from Police Station Shaheed Ganj. On the same day, (March 20, 1990), terrorists had also killed a State Police constable, Jagan Nath and an Intelligence Bureau man, Joginder Singh in Kashmir. Mohd Yousuf of Qazigund, Kashmir and his two other family members were also critically injured by terrorists the same day, labelling them as Police Informers.
A Curfew Pass!
In the killing of Mr A K Raina, terrorists wanted to ensure that Government gets crumbled and locals come out on streets once food channel is disturbed. This Kashmiri Pandit officer (A. K Raina) was an obstacle in their nefarious designs.
At the time of his death, Raina was just carrying a Curfew Pass in his pocket, issued by District Magistrate, Srinagar for the entire month of March 1990. …..And on the other hand, terrorists were openly brandishing highly sophisticated weapons.
According to his younger son Vivek Raina, the Curfew Pass was in his father’s coat pocket, which was later handed over to the family at the time of handing over the body. Vivek recalls that his father believed that “ Nobody can harm him as he had never hurt anyone and was an upright Officer’’. However, he was possibly unaware of the snakes in his backyard.
Even as when his salary was not released on 14th March 1990 due to the turmoil in Kashmir, Raina did not mind for that but ensured that food and supplies chain does not get affected in Kashmir. Vivek recalls that since curfew was clamped most of the time, his father being on a higher post would always be on a Magisterial Duty. Moreover, Food and Supplies was naturally categorised as “Essential Services” and he had to perform duty even at odd hours.
On the fateful day of his killing, A K Raina had got up early in the morning and after a customary Puja ceremony, he had left for his office. It was a matter of few minutes soon after leaving his house that he was pumped volley of bullets in his office chambers. On his way to a Hospital, he was declared as “ brought dead’’.
Denial of Family Pension, Recognition
The Life had turned a hell for the family soon after their shifting to Jammu. The tragedy was further compounded by the authorities at the helm of affairs who caused so many obstacles , as a result of which the family pension of Mr A K Raina was not settled for more than five years after his death!
During the past two years, the Jammu and Kashmir government had named and dedicated so many schools and roads after martyrs and other eminent people. The initiative was a part of the decision to honor those who have died serving the nation. Vivek Raina has been requesting everyone to recognise the services of his father by dedicating at least a room after his name where he was shot dead. The administration has so far failed to do so despite several reminders from slain officer’s son even to the highest authorities at the Sate and Central level, including Lt Governor and Prime Minister.
