In the memory of his son Sumit Singh, who was killed during the Syana violence last year, Amarajeet Singh has got constructed a temple by selling six of his livestock.

Large scale violence was triggered at Chingrawathi Chowki on December 3 at the Mahav Village of Syana District, Bulandshahr following the rumours of cow slaughter in which Inspector Subodh Kumar Singh and Sumit Singh were killed.

Sumit`s father, supported by his family members, built a temple of Sumit on their agricultural land situated on the outskirts of their village Chingrawathi in Syana area. The temple, having a statue of Sumit, was inaugurated by the family members on the occasion of Deepawali.

Sumit`s father Amarjeet says, “I tried to meet BJP MP Bhola Singh and BJP MLA of Syana Devendra Lodhi many times to invite them so that they could join us to pay tribute to Sumit but they were uninterested and would say that they are not in the area.”

“My son laid down his life on the issue of cow slaughter and was brutally shot dead by cops,” said Singh, calling him a martyr who laid down his life for “gau raksha” (cow protection) at a young age.

The facade of the temple reads “Gau Rakshak Veer Shaheed Ch Sumit Tala Dham”. “It has a statue of my son who would live in our hearts forever and ever,” said his father.

“It was done out of our love and affection for Sumit, just like Mughal emperor Shahjahan did for his beloved wife by building the Taj Mahal in her memory,” he said.

When he didn`t get any help from the local politicians and administration, he sold six of his livestock to collect the required money and the order for the statue was given to artisans in Jaipur. “We made it possible with our limited resources,” he said.

Sumit was a promising young man who had cleared the NDA exam and would have joined the Indian Army in April this year. But, he lost his life in the violence that ensued following the rumours of cow slaughter. “This was a big blow to the family as we had high hopes from him,” said his father, adding that he is a small farmer with just eight beegha farming and losing a son of earning age was a great jolt.

Sumit had died in police firing during the violence which erupted on December 3 last year. Villagers, activists, and leaders of the BJP and other Hindu organisations jammed the road outside Chingrawthi police post and torched many vehicles, police posts, and pelted stones. In the retaliatory firing by the police, Sumit sustained bullet injuries and died. Later, however, he was also named as one of the accused in the case.

Amarjeet and his family sat on a dharna demanding CBI inquiry in the case, withdrawal of Sumit`s name from the case, monetary compensation, and a job to a family member. “The district administration assured us that sumit’s name would be withdrawn from the FIR, a compensation of Rs 50 lakh would be given, a job would be given to a family member, and monthly pension would be paid to the parents,” he said, claiming that none of the promises were fulfilled.

The family had also met CM Yogi Adityanath and he had also assured them of accepting their demands after inquiry.

“It’s going to be a year and no inquiry has been set up,” he said, adding that he is still waiting for justice for his dead son.  “No one stood by me in my fight for justice including the police, the politicians, media, administration,” he quipped, threatening to convert to Islam with his family.

“I wish to be buried near the temple of my son and not cremated as per Hindu religion,” he added expressing his anguish.