Captain Anshuman Singh’s parents claim daughter-in-law took Kirti Chakra with her

NEW DELHI, JULY 12: The parents of Captain Anshuman Singh, who was awarded the Kirti Chakra posthumously, claimed that their daughter-in-law, Smriti, took the gallantry award to her home in Punjab’s Gurdaspur along with his photo album, clothes, and other memories.

Captain Singh of the Army Medical Corps died while rescuing people from a major fire in Siachen in July last year. His wife, Smriti, with her mother-in-law Manju Singh by her side, accepted India’s second-highest peacetime gallantry award from President Droupadi Murmu on July 5 during an investiture ceremony.

Speaking to India Today TV, Captain Anshuman Singh’s father, Ravi Pratap Singh, said his daughter-in-law also changed the permanent address listed in her son’s official documents, from Lucknow to Gurdaspur, to ensure that all correspondence concerning his son takes place with her.

The father also called for a change in the ‘next of kin’ law, which determines who inherits assets and receives medical updates if someone dies without a will.

“The rules should also be amended regarding the assistance amount and other facilities provided by the government so that parents are entitled to them along with the wife of the martyr,” Pratap Singh told India Today.

He also demanded that the government should provide a replica of military honours, such as the Kirti Chakra, to the parents along with the wife, so that they can also cherish the memories of their son.

“We married Anshuman with Smriti after his consent. After the wedding, she started staying with my daughter in Noida. On July 19, 2023, when we received information about Anshuman’s death, I called them to Lucknow, and we went to Gorakhpur for his last rites. But after tehravi, (a funeral ritual), she (Smriti) insisted on going back to Gurdaspur,” Ravi Pratap Singh added.

“On the next day, she went to Noida with her mother and took the photo album, clothes, and other belongings of Anshuman with her,” he added.

Ravi Pratap Singh further claimed he couldn’t even hold the Kirti Chakra awarded to his son by the President on July 5.

“When the Kirti Chakra was awarded to Anshuman, his mother and wife went to receive the honour. The President honoured my son’s sacrifice with the Kirti Chakra, but I couldn’t even touch it once,” Ravi Pratap Singh said.

Recalling the award ceremony, Captain Anshuman Singh’s mother Manju said, “On July 5, I attended the award ceremony at Rashtrapati Bhavan with Smriti. When we were leaving the event, upon the insistence of Army officers, I held the Kirti Chakra for a photo once. But after that, Smriti took the Kirti Chakra from my hands.”

Ravi Pratap also alleged that when the government decided to install a statute in memory of Captain Anshuman Singh, he messaged Smriti and her father to at least bring the Kirti Chakra for the unveiling ceremony.

“But there was no response,” Ravi Pratap Singh claimed.

Notably, Captain Anshuman, who belonged to Uttar Pradesh’s Deoria, was posthumously honoured with the Kirti Chakra, India’s second-highest peacetime gallantry award. President Droupadi Murmu presented the award to his wife Smriti Singh and mother Manju Singh at the Rashtrapati Bhawan on July 5.

The soldier, who was his parents’ eldest son, was posted as a medical officer in the Siachen Glacier area, and died after suffering severe burns and injuries in a fire accident in July last year.

Captain Anshuman rescued fellow Army officers stuck in a fibreglass hut, but lost his life after getting trapped, when the fire spread to a medical investigation shelter.

-The India Today