Sharma a martyr, Ashok Chakra proves it: Widow

NEW DELHI: Soon after Delhi High Court asked National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) about the status of its inquiry into the Batla House encounter on Thursday came the news that Inspector Mohan Chand Sharma, who died in that operation, had been conferred the highest peacetime gallantry award, Ashok Chakra.
This came close on the heels of HRD minister Arjun Singh asking for an inquiry.Earlier, Samajwadi Party leader Amar Singh had raised doubts about the authencity of the encounter.
For Sharma's wife, Maya, the award restores her husband's honour. "I had said this earlier and will repeat it whosoever wishes to conduct an independent inquiry into the encounter can do so. If it's established that the encounter was fake, do you think we will spare anyone who caused us this loss? If the government is awarding my husband a gallantry award, it means that there is no doubt that his death was a sacrifice and not something staged,'' she said.
Sharma had died in the encounter on September 19 after he was wounded during a gunbattle with suspected terrorists. His name is among 11 awardees this year. The letter from the ministry of home affairs reached his family on January 21, and since then Maya has been eagerly waiting to receive it from the President on Republic Day. "He received so many awards for his good work from the President and I always accompanied him. It never occurred to me then that the most prestigious award he would ever get would have to be received by me like this,'' she said. "I have been trying to maintain a brave front, but at the dress rehearsal at India Gate on Friday, I broke down remembering how things were before. He used to always fuss over how he looked and constantly ask me if his suit or uniform was properly creased at all his award ceremonies.''
Dressed in a mustard coloured sari, Maya spoke about her husband's sacrifice, beaming with pride. "His death brought the entire family immense grief, and there hasn't been a day that we don't miss him. Our family was thrown into turmoil, but slowly even my children are accepting his absence. My husband sacrificed his life in the service of the country and died a hero. Neighbours who didn't know us before now go out of their way to help us or express their admiration for my husband. People are not blind or foolish to hail an unworthy person as a hero,'' she said.
She was unhappy about political parties trying to derive some mileage from Sharma's death. "I was approached by a political party soon after his death. They told me they would give me a ticket and I should contest the elections. I refused because my husband's death is not something that I am willing to encash in any form. We returned Samajwadi Party leader Amar Singh's cheque because he made some very unsavoury remarks about his death,'' said Maya.
She was offered a job with Delhi Police at the rank of a sub-inspector which she turned down. "I cannot leave my family alone while I undergo training for nine months to become a cop and then have erratic working hours. With my husband gone, I have to take care of them as well as our day-to-day expenses. I have already put in an application for a teaching job at a state government school.''