Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Tuesday handed over cheques worth Rs 1 crore as financial assistance to family of martyr Naik Surinder Singh who had attained martyrdom during line of duty while serving the Indian Army.

Handing over the cheque to family members of martyr at village Duddian (Munak), the Chief Minister said that this valiant son of the state had attained martyrdom while serving his motherland. However, he said that due to implementation of Model Code of Conduct he was not able to come and hand over these cheques to the distressed family. But, Bhagwant Singh Mann said that as soon as the Model Code of Conduct was lifted he had fulfilled the commitment of his government to hand over the cheque to the family.

The Chief Minister said that the financial assistance is being given to the family as a mark of respect for the supreme sacrifice made by the hero for the country. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that the entire nation is indebted to the martyr who had sacrificed his life for the sake of the country and its people. He said that this humble initiative of the state government is in recognition of the immense contribution of this son of soil towards preserving the unity, integrity and sovereignty of the country.