SHRC directs increase in compensation by 20 times

Pulwama encounter

JAMMU: Cracking its whip against state government's decision, the Jammu and Kashmir State Human Right Commission (JKSHRC) after five years, today ordered government to increase compensation as announced by it to three injured persons by as much as 20 times and further added that amount shall be paid to them within period of three months of judgment.
In response to the plea filed by three injured persons, seeking direction to state government to enhance the compensation, "the JKSHRC ordered government to increase the compensation to the aggrieved persons from Rs 2500 to Rs 50,000." said an official.
Pertinently, three persons namely Jahangir Ahmed Mir, Mohmmad Yaseen Bhat and Showkat Ahmed Mir were among fifteen persons who were injured during cross firing between security forces and terrorists at Pulwama in 2012, following which the government paid ex-gratia relief to the tune of Rs 2500 per person.
Aggrieved over the government's decision for announcing meager amount in the name of relief/compensation, the above said trio appeared before the JKSHRC following which proceedings were started in JKSHRC and finally after five years, the commission gave its judgment in favour of the aggrieved persons.
"The JKSHRC gave its decision on the basis of the SSP Pulwama's report in which, mentioning FIR No 309/2012 lodged in Police Station Pulwama, the officer said that the trio was innocent which received bullet injuries during the cross firing at encounter site.
"The trio later produced doctors' report in which it was clearly mentioned that they have suffered disability up to 20 percent. Two of them have received injuries in arms while one received injuries in his leg. All of them are young people and are from Below Poverty Line (BPL) families," SHRC official further said.
After going through the police and doctors report, Justice Bilal Nazki, Chairperson JKSHRC observed, "I think interest of justice will be served by paying compensation of Rs 50,000 to each injured. The amount shall be paid to them within period of three months," adding that the Deputy Commissioner Pulwama will file ATR by due date.
Pertinently, two Lashker-e-Toiba terrorists were killed and four army men including two officers received injuries during an encounter in South Kashmir's Pulwama district on December 28, 2012 while nine persons also received bullet injuries during this fierce gun-battle.