Slain soldier’s widow appeals for relief on housing loan

Anantnag, May 1: The widow of a Territorial Army soldier who was abducted and killed by militants last year has appealed to the State Bank of India (SBI) to grant her time to repay a housing loan taken by her late husband, citing severe financial distress and a pending life insurance claim.
Hailal Ahmed Bhat, a TA soldier from Anantnag, was abducted from the Kazwan forest area of Shangus Kokarnag in October last year. His body was later recovered, while his colleague managed to escape the attack.
The bereaved widow said her husband had secured a housing loan from SBI’s Achabal Branch prior to his death. Since then, she said, the burden of loan repayment has fallen on her shoulders, even as she awaits the disbursement of her late husband’s life insurance policy.
“I have received no insurance payment yet, and the pension I receive is barely enough to meet daily needs. Whatever little I have, I use to settle debts and survive,” she said.
In response, the Branch Manager of SBI Achabal said that the bank is aware of the case and has no intention of being insensitive. “The widow is advised to visit the branch in person so we can review her documents and assess the situation accordingly,” the manager said. [KNT]