“Agniveer Ajay Has Already Been Paid Rs 98.39 Lakhs”: Indian Army Statement

The Indian Army has issued a statement emphasising that the family of Agniveer Ajay Kumar has already received Rs 98.39 lakhs following his death in a landmine blast in the Nowshera sector on January 18.

In response to recent social media posts suggesting that compensation had not been paid to Ajay’s next of kin, the Indian Army clarified: “It is emphasised that the Indian Army salutes the supreme sacrifice made by Agniveer Ajay Kumar. The last rites were carried out with full Military Honours. Of the total amount due, the family of Agniveer Ajay has already been paid Rs 98.39 lakhs.”

The statement further detailed that an additional Rs 67 lakhs, including ex-gratia and other benefits as per the Agniveer Scheme, will be paid upon final account settlement, pending police verification. The total compensation will amount to approximately Rs 1.65 crore.

Agniveer Ajay Singh, a resident of Ramgarh Sardaran village in Ludhiana’s Payal, had joined the Indian Army under the Agnipath scheme in February 2022. The scheme, launched in 2022, aims to recruit young personnel for short-term service in the armed forces to alleviate long-term financial burdens such as pensions.

A controversy erupted when Rahul Gandhi, Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha, criticized the Agnipath scheme, highlighting disparities in benefits for different categories of soldiers. Ajay’s father supported Gandhi’s remarks, noting that the Punjab government had provided the family with Rs 1 crore and promised a government job for his youngest daughter, reported Times of India.

Ajay’s sister, Baksho Devi, mentioned to Times of India that while the family received money from the Army in June, her late brother had not yet been accorded the status of a martyr.