Ex-gratia announced

Shivpuri, MP, Apr 22 (UNI) Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan today announced that ex-gratia of Rs five lakh will be provided to the family members of policemen who are killed during encounters with naxals or dacoits.

Mr Chouhan, while addressing police officials in the wake of dreaded dacoit Dayaram Rambabu Gadaria gang's elimination, congratulated them for making the Gwalior Chambal division free from dacoits.

He asked them to remain alert so that no dacoit gang could spread its terror in the region again.

The Chief Minister described the death of Inspector Virendra Singh Bhadauria in the encounter with the Parihar gang as a loss to the state. He said effort must be made that such gangs do not become powerful again.

He said some gangs wanted to surrender but wondered what kind of justice was it that a person could contest election after committing crimes and spending some years in jail.

Mr Chouhan said an ex-gratia of Rs five lakh had been provided to Mr Bhadauria's family members. A similar help would be provided whenever a policeman died in an encounter with naxals or dacoits, he said.

He declared that revolvers would be awarded to senior police officers, including Inspector General of Police (Gwalior) Sarabjeet Singh and IG (Chambal) Vijay Yadav, the then Gwalior Superintendent of Police Sanjeev Sharma and Shivpuri SP Sajid Farid Shapu on August 15 for achieving success in anti-dacoity operations.

Mr Chouhan said the Gadaria gang's presence was hampering development of the region with contractors refusing to undertake work. The gang's elimination had become a challenge for the government.

He said directions had been issued for granting medals and out of term promotion to police officials engaged in anti-dacoity operations. A proposal was being sent to the Centre for providing bravery medal to such police officials.

District Incharge Minister Narottam Mishra, Gwalior MP Yashodhara Raje Scindia and Director General of Police Anandrao Pawar were present on the occasion.

Later, he told mediapersons that dacoity problem would never raise its head in the region if development was given priority, poor were not harassed and people had faith that they would get justice, he added.

He said he wished to bring about development of the state by providing roads, water and power so that it could become a developed state. Madhya Pradesh has shed the tag of 'Bimaru' state and has become a developing state, he added.

UNI