While Indians are preparing for Holi celebrations, waiting for our family members for home-calling traditions, Ratan Lal’s kids were also waiting for him to take them to their hometown for Holi celebrations. His wife, and other family members who were unaware of the riots which had taken away the lives of many people including the remarkable head constable.
42-year-old Ratan Lal, an ‘ outstanding policeman’ by a superior, took his last breath on February 24, 2020, after fighting against rioters in North East Delhi. He joined the force in 1998 and was currently posted in the area of Gokulpuri.
His colleagues remember him as an enthusiastic patriot and a calm and peaceful Head Constable who knows how to handle every situation. He was adorned for the unique moustache just like, Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman.
Ratan Lal was born in a middle-class family in the Sikar district area of Rajasthan. He was the eldest among three brothers and a sister. While his parents were in Tihawali village, he was staying in North Delhi’s Burari with his family consisting of his wife and three children — two girls aged 11 and 12 and a boy aged 8.
According to the medical reports, “A bullet was stuck in Ratan Lal’s body. It entered from the left shoulder and went to the right shoulder.”
Tributes were paid to Ratan Lal, at New Police Lines, Kingsway Camp, Delhi. Delhi’s Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal led the wreath-laying ceremony, and Union Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai, Delhi Police Commissioner Amulya Patnaik also paid their respect to the policeman along with a gathering of other police officials at the Shaheed Smarak Sthal, New Police Lines.
“Ratan Lal’s martyrdom is a huge loss to the Delhi Police and the nation in whole. I, on behalf of the Delhi police, want to say that we in this time of grief, stand in solidarity with the bereaved family,” Patnaik said.
His body was then taken to his hometown Sikar in Rajasthan for the last ceremonies. The reports said that the people from his village had demanded a ‘martyr’ status for Lal. It was also mentioned that there was a demand for his body to be consigned to flames with full state honours and that a government school in the village be named after Lal.
