Hyderabad: A soldier who has been missing for the past 10 years has been presumed dead. The Army will soon begin to provide pension to his wife.
S.P.R. Namassivaya from Warangal district joined the Army in 2000, was initially posted with the Madras Engineer Group, and later to the 471 Engineer Brigade. He went missing in 2007 when he failed to report to duty after his annual leave.
The Army reported him as absent and informed the family. Despite search operations being conducted by the local police and the Army, he was not found. In 2013, his family once again reported him as missing.
A missing soldier is presumed to be dead if he is not found within seven years. In this case, it has taken a decade for him to be presumed dead. Only one soldier from the state has gone missing.
According to Army regulations, when an officer fails to report to duty, he is declared a deserter and the payment of his monthly salary is stopped.
Missing soldier Namassivaya’s wife Shymala says, “My husband has not come home since December 25, 2007. I received a letter from the Army saying that he had not reported for duty. A police complaint was filed at the regional level, including the District Revenue Office. However, there has been no sign of him to date. My child and I have managed to survive on the provident fund amount and dues released by the Army and owing to support from the family. However, we are yet to receive a pension.”
The case was taken up once again in 2013 when there was no indication of the soldier’s whereabouts. His family approached the TS Sainik Welfare Board, who then wrote to the Army Records Office in Allahabad, requesting approval of an ordinary family pension for the family.
