Railway yet to set up tribunal for blast victims: Somaiya

Mumbai, Sep 11 (UNI) Former BJP MP Kirit Somaiya today lamented that no tribunal has been set up by the railways for the 7/11 Mumbai blast victims even after the period of two months.

In a release issued here today, Dr Somaiya said the story of humiliation continues for the injured victims and alleged that the railway and hospital authorities were asking the relatives of three patients, who are lying in a comatose condition in a city hospital, to take them home.

''Railway and hospital are trying to pressurise the relatives by informing them that they shall not arrange for further medical tratment,'' he alleged.

Out of 1,077 blast victims, more than 50 per cent are yet to receive any financial compensation or ex-gratia announced. Out of 467 grievously injured persons, the railway has paid Rs 50,000 to half of them, while the Railway Minister and Prime Minister had offically intimated that the expenditure for the patients medical treatment shall be arranged by the government, he said.

The railways have paid medical bills for hardly 120 patients till now, while the state government has not paid a single paisa for medical treatment, he pointed out.

Dr Somaiya reiterated that the railway and state government should expedite the ex-gratia payment for the victims.

He said the railways, state and Central governments were to submit the status report to the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) on August 28. However, they have sought four weeks extension to submit the detailed report. Hence, it will be submitted on September 28.

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