The Bihar government has drawn flak over the funeral of BSF sub-inspector Mohammed Imteyaz, a 53-year-old paratrooper from Bihar’s Saran district who was killed in action along the RS Pura sector of Jammu and Kashmir on May 10.
When his body landed in Patna two days later, a video surfaced showing Imteyaz’s family members pushing a trolley carrying his luggage from the airport terminal to the state hangar. A post on X claimed that the family was forced to handle the braveheart’s belongings themselves. Several other users, including a few journalists, reshared the video. Some asked why Chief Minister Nitish Kumar was absent. Another claimed that top government representatives were absent, the family had to carry the luggage from the tarmac to the hangar, and even an air-conditioned vehicle was not provided.
Though it’s not the first time the Nitish Kumar government has been accused of indifference. In 2019, a similar controversy broke out when ministers skipped the reception of a CRPF paratrooper killed in Kashmir.
What actually happened in Imteyaz’s case?
J&K L-G at wreath-laying ceremony, Bihar minister at guard of honour
Under the BSF (Ceremonials and Marks of Respect) Rules, 1989, personnel killed in action are entitled to a BSF funeral. But there is no protocol mandating a chief minister’s presence at such events. These are political gestures, not obligations. There is also no clear SOP in the public domain for who will carry the luggage at the airport or other public transport junctions in such cases.
Additionally, BSF personnel had helped the family load the luggage onto a truck carrying the body home, as the viral video showed. The family travelled in a car rented by them.
Before the body came to Patna, J&K Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha had paid tributes at a wreath-laying ceremony, with several top officials in attendance in Jammu. Later, at the Patna airport, Imteyaz was given a guard of honour, with state minister Shravan Kumar, BJP state president Dilip Jaiswal and Leader of Opposition Tejaswi Yadav in attendance among others.
However, Imteyaz’s son elder Mohammad Imran recalled standing at the Patna airport gate for over half an hour. “Eventually, we had to carry abba’s luggage ourselves on a trolley…the absence of the chief minister and deputy chief minister too makes me sad.”
Road renovated, but anger persists
The paratrooper had last come home – named Seema Prahri Niwas – for Eid this year. He is survived by his wife, two sons, including Imran, and two daughters. His youngest son Emdad, preparing for the UPSC in Delhi, said: “My last conversation with abba was on May 8. He said he was fine. The next morning, we got the news. He always dreamed that I would become an IAS officer. That’s my final goal now.”
Thousands turned up for the funeral on Monday, shouting slogans of “Bharat Mata ki jai”, “Pakistan murdabad” and “Shaheed Imteyaz amar rahein”.
The next day, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar eventually visited the family in Narayanpur, handing over a cheque of Rs 50 lakh. He had already announced that the paratrooper would be cremated with police honours and financial aid would be extended to the family. Kumar was reportedly accompanied by Deputy CM Choudhary, ministers Mohammad Zama Khan and Sumit Kumar Singh, along with top officials, including DGP Vinay Kumar. Kumar announced a memorial gate as well as a two-kilometre stretch to be named after Imteyaz.
But the CM’s visit came hours after the district administration had repaired and renovated a road leading to Narayanpur village.
Despite the tributes, the perception of state indifference lingers, particularly in the eyes of villagers. Imteyaz’s neighbour Mohammad Kajuddin was blunt: “The CM came only days later. Even our MP hasn’t visited.”
Reached for comment, Saran DM Aman Samir denied all the allegations.
Newslaundry has reached out to BSF PRO Jai Prakash Yadav for comment. This story will be updated if he responds.
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