NHRC recommends monetary relief for man killed in UP

New Delhi, Aug.19 (ANI): The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has recommended a monetary relief of five lakh rupees to the next kin of Sunil Kumar Bharadwaj who was killed in indiscriminate firing by a constable of the 20th Battalion of the PAC on the 20th of February, 2005 in Uttar Pradesh.

The Commission took up the matter on a complaint filed by Munni Lal, father of deceased Sunil Kumar.

While considering the reports in the matter, the Commission found that Constable Ram Dhyan Prajapati lost balance of mind and opened indiscriminate fire at his colleagues deployed at Kashi Vishwanath Mandir complex in Varanasi.

Sunil Kumar and three police personnel lost their lives while three other colleagues of Prajapati were injured in the incident.

In response to the Commission's notice, the Uttar Pradesh Government had conceded that the family of deceased Sunil Kumar deserved monetary relief.

The Commission observed that Sunil Kumar was the sole earning member of his family and lost his life for no fault of his. Therefore, the family of the poor victim should be adequately compensated so that they may lead a life of dignity.

The Commission has asked Chief Secretary, Government of Uttar Pradesh to submit the compliance report with the proof of payment of monetary relief to the family of Sunil Kumar within six weeks.

The Commission has also asked the Government of Uttar Pradesh to inform whether the families of the slain police personnel and the injured have been paid ex-gratia or not. Police personnel died in the incident included Head Constables, Uma Shankar Rai, Prem Shankar Yadav and Constable Umesh Kumar Singh. Head Constable Ram Surat, Constables Sita Ram Gaur and Jai Prakash Yadav had sustained bullet injuries. (ANI)