The selfless owner of the vehicle that was blown up while ferrying the police near Gadchiroli, is fighting to get justice for his driver, saying he, too, should be called shaheed, and his kin be given a government job. The driver was the only civilian to die with the police in the Maoist attack on Maharashtra Day, May 1. All the owner wants for himself is time to repay the loan he took for the vehicle, and for the government to replace it.

'Don't want a waiver'

Nandakumar Gahane, 38, who runs a small animal fodder shop, owned the Mahindra mini truck whose EMI is still due. The loan was around R6 lakh, to be paid in 40 instalments. "I do not want a waiver, but with the Mahindra, the only source of major income gone, I need some time to pay back the money," he said, adding that he is going to meet the administration with his demands.