(Deccan Herald
June 14, 2007)
Mangalore riots: NCM for states updated report
From Shruba Mukherjee,DHNS,New Delhi:
Concerned about complaints that the Karnataka government has not given the recommended compensation to victims of the Mangalore riots, the National Commission for Minorities will be writing to the state for an updated Action Taken Report (ATR) on the issue...
Concerned about complaints that the Karnataka government has not given the recommended compensation to victims of the Mangalore riots, the National Commission for Minorities will be writing to the state for an updated Action Taken Report (ATR) on the issue.
“We are concerned about the compensation issue and also about the fact that six months after the riot no action has been taken to identify the police officials who committed atrocities on the minorities,” NCM member Harcharan Singh Josh told Deccan Herald.
He said, the NCM would be writing to the Chief Secretary, Karnataka this week for an ATR on the issue.
Mr Josh, who had visited the riot-torn areas of Mangalore in October 2006, submitted a set of recommendations including Rs 5 lakh as compensation for the next of kin of those who had lost their lives in the violence. He had also recommended that a compensation of Rs 1 lakh each be given to those who were seriously injured during the riots.
“But we have learnt that only Rs 2 lakh has been given as compensation for death and Rs 50,000 for injury,” Mr Josh said.
The NCM had also asked for stringent action against the police personnel found guilty of dereliction of duty, but nothing had been done so far on the issue.
“And this has happened after my repeated pleading with Governor T N Chaturvedi, Leader of Opposition Dharam Singh and DGP, Karnataka B S Sial,” Mr Josh said.
During his visit to the state in March this year, the NCM member called upon Chief Minister Kumaraswamy and urged him to initiate punitive action against the erring police officials.
The commission had also recommended a judicial enquiry by the sitting judge of the High Court into the incident especially against the role of police personnel who “intimidated and harassed” the innocent people and humiliated women and children.
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