Bhagalpur victims should get compensation on par with victims of 1984 anti-Sikh riots

The Justice N N Singh Commission of Inquiry has recommended that victims of the 1989-90 Bhagalpur riots should be compensated on par with those of the 1984 anti-Sikh riots.

New Delhi, Aug.28 : The Justice N N Singh Commission of Inquiry has recommended that victims of the 1989-90 Bhagalpur riots should be compensated on par with those of the 1984 anti-Sikh riots.

The Commission constituted in February 2006, has in its interim report submitted to Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Tuesday, said "There were similarities in the 1984 anti-Sikh riot and the Bhagalpur riots of 1989-90 in regard to their enormity, extent, barbarism, devastation and loss of life and property."

"The duration of Bhagalpur riots in which 1,000 people were killed surpassed that of 1984 Sikh riots and both riots resulted in enormous human tragedy," the Commission said.

The Chief Minister told reporters that the Commission after going through the special package announced by the Central Government on January 16, 2006 for the victims of the anti-Sikh riots found that there was no valid reason for "discriminating" against Bhagalpur riot victims.

The Commission has suggested that the state government take up the matter with the Centre for grant of similar package for the victims of the Bhagalpur riots.

Quoting the report of the one-man commission of inquiry, Nitish Kumar said the government had learnt that in April 2007 the Central government had announced a similar relief package for the victims of the Gujarat communal riots of 2002.

"I am going to write to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh requesting a package identical to the ones for the victims of 1984 anti-Sikh and 2002 Gujarat communal riots for those of Bhagalpur carnage," he said.

Kumar said that Bihar's Home Secretary Afzal Amanullah would leave for New Delhi on Wednesday with his letter to the Prime Minister and hold talks with officials of the Union Home Ministry regarding the compensation package.

He said his government was willing to grant life-long pension to widows and old parents of the riot victims as envisaged in the Centre's rehabilitation package for anti-Sikh riot victims.

Though the Centre's package said the states might grant a pension of Rs 2,500 to the affected persons, Kumar did not specify features of the package announced on January 16, 2006 that included payment of ex-gratia amount of Rs 3.5 lakh in each case of death in addition to the money already paid by respective state governments and Rs 1.25 lakh ex-gratia in case of injury to each victim.

However, the money already paid by the state governments to the injured would be deducted from Rs 1.25 lakh and only the balance amount would be paid.

The interim report of the N N Singh Judicial Commission of Inquiry stressed the need for giving preference to the family members of those killed during Bhagalpur riots in government employment.

Accusing the erstwhile RJD regime of having failed to ensure that victims got justice, Kumar said closure reports were filed by the police in 27 cases despite substantial evidences against the accused.

True to the promise made in its election manifesto about securing justice for the riot victims and their rehabilitation, the NDA government, soon after coming to power, ordered the reopening of these cases, Kumar said.

He said a Commission was constituted to analyse the nature, causes and circumstances under which the investigating officers submitted closure reports and to fix responsibility of the police for alleged negligence and connivance.

The commission was also to inquire if there was any distress sale of properties made by survivors in the aftermath of the riots.

The other terms of reference of the Justice N N Singh Commission was to consider, suggest and supervise the ways and schemes for rehabilitation of Bhagalpur riot victims.

The panel was also to suggest ways to prevent recurrence of such communal riots in the future, the chief minister said. (ANI with inputs)

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