Vanita Singh, widow of Ranbir Singh, shows a letter written to the President and the Prime Minister to know the cause of her husband’s death. Photo: Indervesh Duhan

Sat Singh

Tribune News Service

Bhiwani, July 13

Ranbir Singh of Indian Navy died in 2015 while he was on a 45 days’ official tour on INS Teg in Mauritius. Officials attributed the death to brain haemorrhage, but his widow Vanita Singh (36) refused to buy this theory.“After repeated requests and an RTI plea, Navy has failed to tell me in writing the cause of my husband’s death,” she told the media here today.Vanita is a mother of two children.“On July 25, 2015, Navy officials told me that my husband was seriously ill in Mauritius. They took me to hospital, where his body was lying, on July 29,” Vanita said, adding she was told verbally that Ranbir died of brain haemorrhage.She said her husband was physically fit before leaving for Mauritius. “When I saw the body, there were injury marks on his head. That made me suspect foul play.”Ranbir of the district’s Kadma village had joined Navy in 1995. He was posted as the Senior Chief Petty Officer (SCPO) at the time of his death.Vanita claimed she did not receive support from the Navy in bringing back the body. “There is a protocol to bring the body back home. In my case, I had to arrange everything.”On her struggle, she has written to the President, Prime Minister, Defence Ministry and Navy Admiral, demanding that the cause of Ranbir’s death should be made public, but all in vain.But she is determined. “I will put more efforts to get a court of inquiry conducted, as knowing the cause of my husband’s death is my right,” she added.