In the last 11 months, it’s been a nightmare for Lakshmibai Agasbal, wife of BSF jawan Ashok. Ever since the fateful day her husband went missing from Dharmasthala, she’s been searching high and low for any information on his disappearance.
Speaking to The Hindu , she said till 11 months ago, they had been living in Jaisalmer, Rajasthan, as Ashok was posted there as constable. But after his transfer to Baramula, Kashmir, Ashok decided to send the family to Vijayapura as housing quarters was not available at the unit.
“Before going to Kashmir, my husband took a month’s leave. We came to Vijayapura and decided to enrol our children in Kendriya Vidyalaya. Though we hail from Muttagi village of Basavanabagewadi taluk, we decided to settle in Vijayapura for a better education for the children. For admissions, KV school authorities asked for an official copy of the transfer order. My husband told me to go to Jaisalmer to collect the order copy as he had to visit Kashmir in a few days. He said he would visit Dharmasthala for two days and then go to Kashmir. He left our children at our uncle’s home, but he never returned home, and there has been no information about him. I went to Dharmasthala, stayed for a few days and did everything I could to get any information about him. Later, I filed a complaint in Basavanabagewadi police station. Though police officials too tried to trace him, till date I have no information about my husband,” she said, with a chocking voice.
Ms. Lakshmibai said this information was also conveyed to the BSF office in Jaisalmer, and they sent a couple of officials to Vijayapura for confirmation.
“The officials visited and collected details, but I don’t know what happened after that. For the last 11 months, the BSF has stopped paying my husband’s salary. I have been writing letters to them telling them about my financial position, but I have not received a positive response. All I have come to know is that the office settles an account only when the jawan’s death is confirmed. I even met an advocate to find out the legalities. The advocate said as per the law, in a missing case, only after seven years is the person considered dead,” she said.
Ms. Lakshmibai said she is miserable as no relatives have come forward to help her. “I am managing somehow, but how long can I do it. On the one hand, I have to take care of my children and on the other, I have to carry on my struggle to search for my husband,” she said, and has now sought the help of the district administration.
