BeyondHeadlines News Desk
New Delhi: Criticising the selective ex-gratia amount of Rs 3 lakh to the father of 10-month baby boy Naushad who died in the police firing on June 3 in Bihar’s Forbesganj, the committee for Justice to Forbesganj Police Firing Victims has termed it as a mockery of justice.
“Both the amount of compensation and its selectiveness is ridiculous and a mockery of justice,” said Mahtab Alam, civil rights activist and member of the committee. “Is the price of a person only Rs 3 lakhs in Nitish’s eyes,” he asked adding, “even the proposed Communal and Targeted Violence Bill suggests a compensation amount of at-least Rs 10 lakhs.”
- Ten-month-old Naushad, victim of the police bullets in Forbesganj, Bihar (TCN photo)
The government has made it clear that the decision of compensation to the other deceased will be made on the basis of the report of judicial probe, which is not expected to be out before six months. “It has been four days since Nitish Kumar announced the judicial probe, and we are yet to know who will be heading the probe. The government is using delay tactics so that all the crucial evidences can either be buried or forged,” he alleged.
In all, five people were killed in the police firing, while many others were injured when they were protesting against the blocking of the connecting road between two villages on June 3rd at Bhajanpur village under Forbesganj block in Araria district of Bihar. “The report of a fact finding team has confirmed the role of the Police in the killings but the government is yet to take any action against the police personnel involved in the firing and this shows the seriousness of the government,” he further alleged.
To demand justice for the victims of Forbesganj firing case and to take the case forward, a committee comprising of human rights’ activists, journalists, teachers and students was formed on Thursday evening. The committee will stage a Dharna at Bihar Bhawan here in the capital on June 13 at 11 am onwards.
The committee has reiterated its following demands:
1. Judicial probe into the entire incident by not less than a sitting judge of the High Court.
2. Immediate suspension of all the police personnel involved in the case and registration of an FIR against them under section 307 of Indian Penal Code.
3. Compensation of at least Rs. 10 lakhs as proposed in the Communal and Targeted Violence Bill to each family along with government service to one of the dependents.
