'Boot polish' boy youngest victim of UP serial blasts

Lucknow, Nov 23 (UNI) A 12-year-old boy, who polished shoes at the Varanasi collectorate, was perhaps the youngest victim of the serial bomb blasts which rocked three major towns of Uttar Pradesh this afternoon.

A Dalit boy, Manoj (12), died on the spot when three simultaneous blasts hit the Varanasi civil court premises around 1320 hrs today.

''His father Jilaid said the boy used to earn around Rs 70 per day to help him sustain a family of nine,'' said a police officer here.

Jilaid, who cleans ears and offers massage is the second money earner of the family.

The 12-year-old resident of Chowkaghat leaves behind his parents and six siblings, including a 20-month-old toddler and four sisters.

The state government has announced a compensation of Rs 2 lakh each to the next of those killed in the latest terror strike in the state. The centre would also provide Rs one lakh ex-gratia amount to the family of the deceased in the blast.

A total of 13 people died and 59 injured in the blasts which took place in Lucknow, Varanasi and Faizabad.

UNI