Bihar: Pension for Bhagalpur riot victims

Patna, Aug 29: Bihar government has decided to pay monthly pension of Rs 2,500 to victims of Bhagalpur riot of 1989.

After receiving the preliminary report of Justice N N Singh Commission on Bhagalpur riot, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar today said the State Government would make payment of Rs 2,500 as monthly pension to the riot victims. He said the steps would be initiated soon to identify the peneficiaries.

''State Government had earlier requested the N N Singh Commission to suggest the modalities of compensation for Bhagalpur riot victims,'' he said adding the Commission had recommended the modalities of compensation to the riot victims in its preliminary report itself.

Mr Kumar said the State Government would urge the Center to make payment of compensation to the Bhagalpur riot victims on the pattern of compensation paid to the victims of anti-Sikh riots of 1984. He added that State Government would also attach the copy of the N N Singh Commission report with the request letter to be sent to the Center in this regard.

''The Center has already announced compensation to Gujarat riot victims on the pattern of anti-Sikh riots of 1984'', Mr Kumar pointed out and said that the Bhagalpur riot victims should also be given such compensation. The NDA government would not allow any accused of Bhagalpur riot to go scot free, he concluded.

UNI