UP Govt gives land to Nithari victims' families

Noida, Jan 8 (UNI) The Uttar Pradesh Government today handed over deeds of land ownership to families of 17 victims of the Nithari serial killings, as part of the compensation package.

Samajwadi Party (SP) General Secretary Amar Singh, who visited the village where 17 children and young girls were brutally murdered, gave the documents to the families. On January 5, Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav had announced the grant of the residential plots besides the CBI probe into the incident.

Each family has been provided a 26 sq mt plot in Noida's Sector 122 by the Noida Development Authority.

The Government has already given Rs 5 lakh to each of the families.

Talking to reporters, Mr Singh accused the Centre of discrimination against Uttar Pradesh as the Samajwadi party was in power in the State.

''In Congress-ruled Andhra Pradesh serial killings are being reported. In Mumbai, where the Congress is in power a women is molested but no CBI probe was demand by AICC President Sonia Gandhi.

It proves discrimination,'' he alleged.

Asked why the Chief Minister had not visited the village so far, Mr Singh said Mr Yadav was getting a ''minute-by-minute'' update of the situation.

''Mr Yadav is fully aware of the whole situation.... I have come here as his messenger,'' he added.

Describing the incident as ''shameful'', Mr Singh said the police officials guilty of dereliction of duty had been punished.

However, the SP General Secretary also had a word of praise for the Noida Police, saying it had unearthed the crime.

Mr Singh announced that henceforth cases of missing people will be probed under heinous crimes.

The Noida Administration will hold meetings with Residents' Welfare Associations to create awareness about safety norms.

UNI