CUTTACK: A bereaved family of Simulia in Balasore district, which only breadwinner was accidentally shot dead by the police in 2002, finally got some justice last week after the intervention of the Orissa High Court.

A Division Bench of the High Court, comprising Justice B.P. Das and Justice M.M. Das on Friday ordered the State government to pay an additional compensation of Rs. 2.5 lakhs to the family of the deceased, Sunil Mandal, within three months. Sunil's widow Kalpana was given a compensation of Rs. 1 lakh from the Chief Minister's relief fund immediately.

An employee of a Paradeep-based ice factory, Sunil was killed in police firing when he was returning to his native village in a passenger bus.

The Balasore police had fired at the bus to stop it as the vehicle was speeding away after jumping a sales tax department check-gate. The bullet hit Sunil who died on the spot.

High Court moved

Although, the police official involved in the firing and the erring bus driver in the meantime have been exonerated, Kalpana was running from pillar to post to get adequate compensation for the accidental death of her husband.

She approached the High Court claiming more compensation from the government stating that she had to look after three of her minor children.

The High Court in an interim measure had asked the State government to pay Rss 1.5 lakh to the widow.

Directive to officials

Despite this interim court order, when the State government did not respond, State Home Secretary, Balasore Collector and SP were directed to appear in the court in person along with a bank draft for Rs. 1.5 lakh.

The petitioner was paid the interim compensation in November last year.

Disposing of the case on Friday, the court further directed the government to pay an additional amount of Rs. 2.5 lakhs to the victim's family within three months.

The Bench in its order asked the Government to make a fixed deposit of Rs. 1 lakh in the name of the widow and Rs. 50,000 each in the name of the three minor children for ten years.

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