Army Chief General Bikram Singh visits Lance Naik Hemraj Singh's family

LUCKNOW: Army chief General Bikram Singh met the family of Lance Naik Hemraj Singh in Mathura on Wednesday. General Singh said that the sacrifice made by Hemraj Singh would not go in vain and the Army would do all it could to help the family meet its needs.

General Singh said that the Army does not violate the ceasefire with Pakistan but would retaliate if fired upon. Hemraj Singh’s mother had on Wednesday said that she will ask the Army chief to take care of Hemraj’s family. She also said she wanted Hemraj Singh’s son to join the Army.

General Bikram Singh’s visit comes after the family of Hemraj Singh who was beheaded by the Pakistani Army in Poonch district on January 8 went on a hunger strike demanding that his head be returned and the soldier be shown respect and honour by the authorities.

The fast by Hemraj Singh’s ailing mother and widow lead to a bevy of politicians, including chief minister Akhilesh Yadav, Union minister of state for defence Jitendra Singh, BJP leaders Sushma Swaraj and Nitin Gadkari, visiting the bereaved family.