Raipur:
While the family of the Sukma District Collector Alex Paul Menon celebrate his release, people seem to have forgotten two of his bodyguards who were killed by the Maoists while he was taken hostage on April 21. Amjad Khan and Kishan Kujur were shot dead while trying to stop the Maoists from kidnapping the 32-year-old IAS officer from a public meeting in Sukma.
As the Sukma Collector celebrates his freedom, the families of the two guards mourned the loss of their bread-earners. There is a sense of dejection both the families of the guards, where none of the government officials visited after the incident.
26-year-old Amjad Khan's family got the news of the loss from the media. His family members allege, the government did not even bother to inform about his death before 48 hours. Amjad Khan, a post-graduate, joined the police force in 2008, and was posted in Sukma for the last two years. His family says, Amjad was a good athlete and a very responsible in his job.
Amjad Khan's colleague Kishan Kujur is survived by his pregnant wife and two children, apart from his parents. His younger brother is also in the police force, who is currently posted in the Maoist-hit district of Bijapur. After the loss of the elder son, Kishan Kujur's family fears for the life of the younger one.
His mother Jarmin Kujur says, "I want my second son to quit his job as a cop after the incident. We will be facing a lot of financial difficulties."
Unlike the state government, Sukma Collector shared the grief of the families. He has reacted to the loss of his two guards on Facebook, saying, "I am still shattered and disturbed because I loved those two boys Amjad and Kisan. They were very affectionate to me and so was I to them. Memories of these two boys are making me sleepless."
It's been more than two weeks since the two guards were killed. But the state government has not honoured the supreme sacrifice made by Amjad Khan and Kishan Kujur. Uncertain future lies ahead for both the families, who are now hoping to get some help from the administration to make up for the loss.