Ex-army man struggles for survival

Thane, Dec 24 (UNI) A 55-year-old ex-army jawan is fighting for his survival in the streets of the city for more than a year, living the life of a beggar.

This story is of Satish Damle, also a former Bank of India employee. He had taken voluntary retirement and was staying in a rented flat of one Janardhan Gogte at the Srinivas Building in Vishnunagar locality here since 1955. In 1999 his house owner allegedly started creating problems and asked him to vacate. On August 25, 2006, the house owner's son Vinayak, evicted Damle from the house along with his belongings, sources close to Damle said.

He started living in the open on the platform near the house.

Damle, who was already suffering from diabetes and had fractured both his legs, was unable to move anywhere.

Subsequently, his wife and two daughters deserted him and he was left with no support. And the former jawan has been living a life of a beggar on the streets of the posh Vishnunagar locality of Thane city.

According to the sources, he was taken to a hospital after his health deteriorated on saturday.

UNI