Captain Anshuman Singh's Parents Allege Daughter-In-Law Took Away Son's Kirti Chakra, Seek Change In Army's NOK Rule

Captain Anshuman Singh's wife Smriti and mother Manju Singh had accepted the Kirti Chakra from President Droupadi Murmu on July 7.

The parents of Captain Anshuman Singh, who was martyred in July 2023, while saving his comrades from a massive fire in Siachen, have made allegations against their daughter-in-law Smriti. Smriti along with her mother-in-law Manju Singh had recently accepted the second-highest peacetime gallantry award, Kirti Chakra, from President Droupadi Murmu on July 7.

Just a few days after the investiture ceremony, Singh's parents have now claimed that their daughter-in-law took away the gallantry award along with their son's clothes and photo album with her to her home in Punjab's Gurdaspur.

The martyred soldier's father said that he is unhappy with his daughter-in-law's behaviour and added that his son lost his life but he did not get anything, sources told ABP News.

Smriti, his wife, took away the award and even the ex-gratia amount with her as she left for her hometown, Singh's father alleged. He said that his son left and now his daughter-in-law also left.

As per media reports, she also changed the permanent address listed in her husband's official documents from Lucknow to Gurdaspur, ensuring any communication regarding Singh takes place with her.

Parents Seek Change In Army's NOK Rule

The media reports also said that the soldier's father, Pratap Singh, also called for a change in the 'next of kin' law. This Army law determines who inherits assets and receives medical updates, incase something happens to a person in service. Similar to the concept of a nominee, the NOK rules determine, who receives the ex-gratia as well.

When a person joins the Army, his parents or guardian's names are registered in the NOK. However, when he or she marries, their spouse's name replaces their parent's names as their next kin.

The late Captain's father also compared Congress MP Rahul Gandhi to Mahatama Gandhi. Calling him a brilliant leader, he said that wrong things have been said about the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha.

Underlining the similarities between the two, he said that just like Mahatama Gandhi did not care about his dress code and attended round table conference in dhoti, similarly, Rahul Gandhi also goes to the Parliament wearing a white T-shirt.

He also stated that the Agnipath scheme needs to be improved.