Muzaffarnagar: In a bid to prove he is alive, a 70-year-old Satpal (Rajput) was roaming in Budhana carrying a banner that read “Main Zinda Hoon”. It’s been a year since Satpal was declared dead in official records and his pension was stopped.After running from pillar to post, Satpal finally visited a grievance redressal camp. An inquiry has been ordered into the matter. The incident took place on Tuesday, but was reported on Thursday in Budhana subdivision of Muzaffarnagar. On Samadhan Diwas, Satpal approached Budhana tehsil, holding a banner that read, “Main Zinda Hoon! Satpal S/O Surti, Budhana Tehsil Muzaffarnagar. Village panchayat's secretary has stopped my old-age pension after declaring me dead”.The ordeals of “living dead” is not new to UP and parts of Bihar. Their plight was first highlighted by one Lal Bihari from Azamgarh, who struggled for 16 years to prove that he was alive. During his struggle between 1978 and 1984, he added the word “Mritak” to his name and floated a Mritak Sangh (the association of living dead), which has now more than 10,000 members. Noted actor-director Satish Kaushik is making a biopic titled “Kagaz’ on Lal Bihari's life in which actor Pankaj Tripathi is playing the lead role.Satpal, who lives with his wife and an unemployed son in Badkata village under Budhana police station, was ignored by panchayat secretary as well as the authority for the past 10 months. According to sources, Satpal received Rs.400 per month as pension which is not being credited to his bank account for the past 10 months."In February I visited bank. The staff checked my account and told that my pension was stopped by the authority, and advised me to contact the welfare department. The welfare department officials told me that I was declared dead by the village panchayat secretary. I made a complaint at Budhana tehsil on Tuesday,” said Satpal.According to sources, Satpal approached Budhana tehsil on Samadhan Diwas, holding a banner and demanded action against the person who declared him dead. Chief development officer (CDO) Archana Verma ordered an investigation into the matter."He made a complaint that panchayat secretary declared him dead. I have ordered a fair investigation and if the secretary is found guilty, we will take an action against him,” Verma said.

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