6 granted compensation by CMO against the collector’s recommendation
18 Mar, 2013As per information provided to RTI activist Nisar Tamboli, it has been revealed that there was a disagreement between the Collector and Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) regarding grant of compensation to the six persons killed in police firing. The Collector of Dhule Prakash Mahajan had written to the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) recommending that no compensation should be granted to the six Muslim men who were killed during the police firing on January 6. The police had to open fire on a rioting mob of 3,000 to 4,000 men in Dhule. The Collector claimed that six persons who were killed on the spot were part of the mob and should not be treated as victims. Hence, as per the government rules, no compensation should be granted to them.
The CMO ignored the reference of the Collector and granted a compensation of over Rs. 5 lakh to the family of each of the six killed in the police firing. An amount of Rs. 1.21 Crore was approved as compensation to be distributed to the next of kin of the deceased, the injured and those who suffered financial damage. This amount was to be distributed after proper verification and in accordance with the rules.
The CMO overruled the collector observing that on humanitarian grounds, a compensation of Rs 5 lakh should be granted from the CM’s Relief Fund to be distributed to the next of kin. On February 7, the amount of compensation was handed over to the next of kin of the killed.