For 15 years, Sangita Das from Assam's Kamrup district has been fighting a lone battle, to get her rightful due and to restore the honour of her husband Pradip Das, a former sepoy in the India Army. It all started in May 2001, when Das, a sepoy with the 5 Rashtriya Rifles Battalion returned to his regiment after spending his annual leave with his family in Assam.

But Das went missing and never rejoined his unit in Jammu and Kashmir. His whearabouts still remains unknown.

"Pradip Das was on a 45-day leave and never re-joined his unit. Later, Pradip Das was declared a 'deserter' and, as a result, Sangita did not receive any assistance from anybody," said defence PRO Lieutenant Colonel Suneet Newton.

With her husband being declared a 'deserter' the ordeal of Sangita began. Adding to her woes was the untimely death of her father. With a daughter to take care of, and no income, Sangita started picking odd jobs, while fighting a case at the Armed Forces Tribunal's Guwahati Bench since 2004.

After years of legal battle the tribunal ruled in her favour in 2013 and the 5 Rashtriya Rifles republished its original order amending Pradip's status from 'deserter' to 'missing.

This March her pension order was also issued.

"Besides, Sangita Das has been given a job by the HQ 51 Sub Area and her daughter Dinisha has been admitted to the Army Public School, Narangi Cantt. All expenditures - school fees, uniform and books - are being borne by HQ 51 Sub Area," said Newton.