OROP protest: Fifth veteran hospitalised

New Delhi: An ex-serviceman, participating in the relay hunger strike over ‘One Rank, One Pension’ here, was on Saturday hospitalised after his health deteriorated during the agitation to which no end seems to be in sight.

“Havildar (retd) Abhilash Singh has been taken to hospital. He was on relay hunger strike,” said a spokesperson for the United Front of ex-servicemen, the umbrella organisation of veterans carrying out the protest.

He is the fifth ex-serviceman to be hospitalised after deterioration in health condition during the relay hunger strike, as four were admitted to hospital earlier. The agitation by the ex-servicemen entered the 76th day on Saturday but there seems to be no end in sight as the deadlock continues between the government and the protesters.

On Friday the government had said “some more time” will be required to roll out OROP as “small gaps are being filled”. Close to 22 lakh retired servicemen and over six lakh war widows are likely to be beneficiaries of the scheme.