Family members of constable Manoj Kumar Behra,one among 45 jawans who were martyred in the Pulwama terror attack last year remain entangled in poverty and grief as the deceased's wife moved away from their home after receiving the financial support promised by the government.

The martyred constable hailed from Ratanpur village under Niali area of the Cuttack district.

When India Today visited the family of Manoj Kumar, his father said that after their son's death, the family was struck by a new twist in their fate.

"Our daughter in law, Elilate Behera left us after receiving all the financial support from the government. She received a sum of Rs 25 lakhs from the state government and another 30 lakhs from the union government in form of financial aid disbursed by the governmnt for the family members of soldiers who lost their lives in the attack", Jitendra Behra father of Manoj Behra told India Today.



Elilate also refused to accept the government job offer by the government saying that she work only after three years, as their daughter was very young, and that she had to take care of her.

When contacted by India Today, Elilata confirmed that she did receive a sum of Rs 51 lakhs from union and state government and that she will take up a job only after her daughter is 5 years old.

" I have received a sum of Rs 51 lakhs as financial aid from the government, and I want to ensure that my daughter gets good education out of the money." Elilata said.

However, the martyrs wife denied that she received any help from Reliance Foundation.

Expressing his grief, Manoj's father said that their son was everything for them and also the bread winner, and that this incident has put them in a fix.

"Our son was everything for us, since his death our life has been miserable. He looked after us when he was alive. All the money that government sent our way was deposited into our daughter in laws account. Now she tells us that we didn't have any right over the money. I don't know what to do and where to go for help," Manoj Behra said in exasperation.



The villagers also believe that a gross injustice has been committed in this case. And that the immediate family members of Manoj are helpless and have nowhere to go.

"The entire village is in shock because of this incident. We never imagined that this kind of fate awaits Manoj's old parents after his death. They are leading a miserable life with no source of income," told Sagarika Singh, a local villager from Ratanpur village.