A Celebration and a Tragedy, Just Two Days Apart
The Dalgaon panchayat in the Rohru area of Himachal Pradesh's Shimla district should have been celebrating these days, but instead it is gripped by silence and grief. For Ina Machret, who had just won the post of Pradhan in the panchayat elections, the joy of victory turned into the deepest sorrow within a matter of days. Her husband, Janki Das (45), was shot dead in Chandigarh. The very Monday on which Ina was to attend the swearing-in ceremony of panchayat Pradhans in Shimla was preceded by the devastating news that arrived on Saturday and took her husband from her.
The Attack at the Chandigarh Medical Store
Janki Das originally belonged to Dalgaon in the Rohru region of Shimla district, but he had been living and working in Chandigarh for a long time. He had worked as a cashier at Kumar Medical Store in Sector 11 of Chandigarh for a considerable period and lived in the Dhanas area. On Saturday afternoon, two assailants entered this very medical store and opened fire on Janki Das, targeting him directly. A total of 13 rounds were fired at him. He was rushed to PGI in critical condition, where he succumbed to his injuries. After carrying out the attack, three accused fled from the spot. CCTV footage of the entire incident has also surfaced.
She Won the Pradhan Post by 359 Votes
This time the Dalgaon panchayat was reserved for the Scheduled Caste category, and around seven candidates entered the fray for the post of Pradhan. Ina Machret contested against six male candidates and defeated all six by a margin of 359 votes to claim victory. Looking at the nomination figures, a total of 9 people had filed their papers, but two of them later withdrew their nominations.
In the affidavit she submitted to the Election Commission, Ina had stated that her husband held a bank account in Chandigarh containing five thousand rupees in cash. She had also declared that no case was registered against her family, that there was no loan outstanding, and that they owned no vehicle.
An Outpouring of Grief on Social Media
As news of Janki Das's death spread, people poured out their condolences and memories on social media. Dimple Sandhu wrote, "Oh God, this should not have happened. This was a person who helped everyone with an open heart. During our difficult times, Ina ji and her husband Janki Das ji helped us a great deal in Chandigarh. How can anyone kill such a kind-hearted person? I am left speechless hearing this."
Kalpana Makral, too, expressed her anguish, writing, "This is very tragic news. At times like these, words fall short. It is with deep sorrow that I have to inform everyone that Shri Janki Das Machret, husband of our Dalgaon panchayat Pradhan Ina Machret ji, passed away suddenly in an unfortunate incident in Chandigarh. He was an extremely noble, affable and genuine human being. We shared a personal bond with him, and his sudden departure has shaken us to the core. May God grant the departed soul a place at His feet and give the family the strength to bear this unbearable grief."
