Kangra (Himachal Pradesh): Surinder Kumar, 46, a Gunner in the Indian Army, was declared ‘prematurely dead’ by the Indian Army in 2020. However, the soldier reached home after 16 years of his missing.
Kumar was born in remote Dainkwan village of Kangra district. Narrating his woes, he told UNI at his residence in remote Daikwan village that he joined the Indian army as a Gunner in 1997 when he was 18 years old.
He said he was married to Meena Kumari who came from a Punjab village near Pathankot in 2006. However, the married life, according to him, did not work smoothly. He claimed that his wife wanted to live separately.
In 2007, Kumar said, the couple went to Gujarat where too, things did not work out between the couple. Meanwhile, the couple had a son.
In 2008, according to Surinder Kumar, his wife left for her father's home along with her brother from Gujarat. Kumar said he came under mental strain and depression.
He said that a case against him and his family was registered under Section 498 IPC (illicit relations) and he attended the court for some time.
He claimed that in 2009 he left the job and also did not return home and wandered at various places in Gujarat, Maharashtra and Rajasthan.
Meanwhile, his wife lodged a missing report in Nurpur police station of Kangra district in 2012.
It was in 2020 the Army declared him prematurely dead and offered his service benefits to his mother who, according to Tilak Raj, father of Surinder Kumar, refused to accept the benefits saying that these were of no use. The benefits were given to his wife, Kumar said.
After 16 years, Surinder Kumar got in touch with his younger brother Kushal Kumar on Facebook. When Kushal was convinced that his elder brother was alive, he prompted him to return to his home.
In December 2024, Surinder Kumar surrendered before a court in Pathankot as he was declared a proclaimed offender in a case and was sent to jail for 42 days.
After his jail-time was over, he returned home after 16 years. The family is now enjoying his company. His younger brother was a class V student when Kumar had joined the Army. Kushal got married in 2010 and is now father of two kids.
“I encouraged my brother to return, after all, he was my elder brother and I wanted to see him back in the family,” said Kushal.
The ex-Army man is now struggling to prove that he is not dead. The process of verification and enquiries by different agencies has started.
SSP Nurpur Ashok Rattan told UNI that Damtal police was directed to hold an enquiry and verification on the spot, which the police did and the report was sent to the Army.
It remains to be seen when Kumar will be declared alive by the Indian Army.