Akshay joins drive to ‘sweeten’ Diwali for kin of slain cops

Mumbai, October 21

The Diwali festival has become merrier for families of 103 slain policemen and Army personnel in Maharashtra, courtesy an initiative by a senior IPS officer and Bollywood actor Akshay Kumar, with the latter contributing over Rs 25 lakh for the cause.

“We made a list of martyred policemen and military/paramilitary personnel belonging to Kolhapur, Sangli, Satara, Pune-Rural and Solapur-Rura. When Akshay got to know of the initiative, he decided to chip in, sending a cheque for Rs 25,000 and a signed letter to each of the families,” Kolhapur Range IGP Vishwas Nangre Patil said.

“I am aware that you must be recalling their lovely memories during Diwali. The tragedy that has befallen your family is immense and I pray to god that you overcome this tragedy with fortitude and usher in the new year,” the actor wrote.

Patil said Akshay recently sent him a photograph of a little girl weeping beside the coffin of her father. “When I broached the subject of helping slain policemen’s families, the actor promptly decided to chip in,” he added. PTI