CM announces ex-gratia, SAYS wants 'piece of land for martyrs' memorial'

AMARNATH LAND ROW

Zafar Choudhary

JAMMU: Responding to a strong demand from the ruling alliance partner Bhartiya Janta Party, the government has today agreed to grant ex-gratia relief to the families of those who died during Amarnath land row agitation of 2008 at various places in Jammu region but the Sangarsh Samiti is asking for "piece of land for memorial for the martyrs"
An announcement to this effect was made by Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti in the Legislative Council today. The case of compensation to Amarnath land row victims gained prominence after the Chief Minister announced, on January 9, ex-gratia to the families of 76 persons who had died in confrontation with the security forces during 2016 unrest in Kashmir.
Thirteen persons had died in different circumstances during two-month long agitation in Jammu against government order of withdrawing allotment of land to the temple trust. The Amarnath Yatra Sangharsh Samiti (SAYS), spearheading the agitation, had also received significant monetary contribution and on the conclusion of agitation the families of each of those who died were given cash compensation of Rs 4 lakh.
The Samiti has welcomed the decision but said that government's move lacked sincerity. "There wasn't any recent demand from us for ex-gratia compensation, the government has done so to cover up its move of offering relief to stone-pelters who the anti-national elements", SAYS convenor Pawan Kohli told The News Now. Kohli further said, "I am anguished that patriotic martyrs have been bracketed with the anti-national stone-pelters".
Kohli said the compensation is though welcome but the Samiti has been raising "demand for a piece of land to built a memorial for the martyrs". "Since the Samiti had already paid relief from its own funds and in some cases -may be eight or nine -the government has some compensation amounts, our main demand if land for memorial", said Kohli. "We have money in our fund for raising the memorial but government must agree to land"
Vishva Hindu Parishad leader and former convenor of SAYS, Leela Karan Sharma said, "it is a vote bank politics. "The government has succumbed under compulsion to balance its act of giving compensation to the stone-pelters in Kashmir", said Sharma.
Replying to discussion on Motion of Thanks on the Governor's Address in the Legislative Council, Mehbooba Mufti said "on a similar pattern, victims of Amarnath land row in the State during 2008 would also be paid ex gratia and other financial compensation". By 'similar pattern' the CM referred to the deaths in Kashmir last year. She said, "a large number of those killed, blinded, injured or affected in any way during unrest in the Valley belonged to very poor families and many of them were orphans who had nobody to guide. As such the rehabilitation of their kin or these injured lies with the Government, she said. "I announced setting up of Special Investigating Teams to probe these killing besides announcing the ex gratia", she informed the House.
She said, similarly, the kin of Chamail Singh, a civilian from Paragwal area of Jammu province killed in Pakistan in 2013, would also be duly compensated. She said her Government won't differentiate on the basis of caste, creed or colour when it comes to the rehabilitation of its people.

Thirteen persons had died in different circumstances during two-month long agitation in Jammu against government order of withdrawing allotment of land to the temple trust in 2008
Manjit Singh : One of the participants in Sangharsh Samiti's sit-in in Bhaderwah, Manjit got injured in an explosion during a procession on July 2. He succumbed to his injuries on July 6.
Ramesh Kumar : Chased by police for alleged violation of curfew, a Pirmitha resident, Ramesh Kumar tried to jump from fourth storey of his house to another house. He fell down the street and died of fatal head injuries on July 7, 2008.
Kuldeep Verma : Verma's death on July 23, 2008 was a turning point in the agitation. During a Samiti sit-in at Parade Grounds, Verma fell down after reciting a few patriotic couplets. He had apparently committed suicide. A note recovered from his pocket had mentioned in a poetic way that he was offering his life to the cause of religion.
Narendra Sharma: A motor spare parts dealer, Narendra Sharma led a group of hundreds of agitators to block truckers from onward journey to Kashmir on August 6, 2008. This led to scuffle with security forces who opened fire in which Sharma sustained bullets and died on the spot.
Balwant Khajuria : An Ayurvedic doctor, allegedly committed suicide in tehsil Hiranagar of Kathua district after consumed some poisonous substance at the site of dharna on August 14, 2008. In a suicide note recovered from his possession, Khajuria had made a wish that his property be donated to Shri Amarnath Shrine Board, while he also contributed Rs 1000 to Samiti's funds
Bodh Raj : A farmer from Kotli Makhi area, Bodh Raj was on way to a Samiti dharna on August 18 when Police chased him for alleged violation of restrictions. In the long chase Raj's motorbike skidded off leading fatal head injuries to which he succumbed
Deepak Sharma : Sharma was among a group of young people from Reyal area onboard a tractor trolley on their way to Samiti's 'Satyagrah' event in Bishnah on August 20. When the over sped tractor driver allied sudden brakes on being stopped by Police, the trolley skidded off causing serious injuries to all passengers. Sharma succumbed in the hospital.
Sanjeev Singh : Sanjeev was killed in Police firing in Samba town on August 4. The then SSP was charged with personally firing at the crowd without any prior warning.
Sunny Padha : Lone son of his parents, Sunny Padha was also killed in Samba firing. Sunny was a postgraduate student.
Other Four : Jaswant Singh son of Jamrodh Singh, a resident Gaghwal, Kamal Choudhary of Swankha Camp, Jammu, Sunil Singh son of Bharat Singh, Samba and Sanjeev Singh of Samba were the other three persons who died in different circumstances during the Amarnath land agitation.
Updated On 1/17/2017 12:39:56 PM