Army to pay compensation to families of Dodipora victims

Srinagar, Feb 23 (UNI) The Army here today said it will pay compensation to the families of the innocent youth who were allegedly killed by troops at Dodipora in Handwara yesterday.

''We will certainly go into the compensation aspect. Any innocent civilian killed will be compensated. But, we will wait for the situation to stabilise as it is an emotional issue,'' General Officer in Commanding (GOC) XV Corps Lt Gen S S Dhillon told journalists here.

He said once the emotions were out of it and the facts known to the people, the families would be adequately compensated.

''Some people are already aware of the facts. Once the misperceptions die down, we will pay the compensation. I can assure the families of all possible help,'' the Corps Commander said.

Lt Gen Dhillon said while three youths -- Amir Akbar, Shakir Wani and Ghulam Hassan Bhat -- were innocent civilians, the fourth Samad Mir was an overground worker of the banned Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT).

UNI AG VD GC1954