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Nitish demands compensation for Bhagalpur riot victims

Patna: The Bhagalpur riot victims should receive compensation on par with those of the 1984 anti-Sikh riots, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has said. “My Government is totally committed to bringing the culprits of Bhagalpur riots to book and compensating the victims on par with those of the 1984 anti-Sikh riots,” he told reporters on the sidelines of his interface with the people at the weekly ‘Janata durbar’.

Mr. Kumar said he had twice discussed the issue with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and requested the judicial inquiry commission headed by Justice N. N. Singh to submit its recommendations on the quantum of compensation at the earliest.

“Once the recommendations are received, we will assess if the State can provide compensation to the victims through its own resources or will have to seek central assistance,” he said. It was due to the sincere efforts of his Government that the 14 accused in the massacre of 116 people at Logain village in Bhagalpur were convicted after the case was hanging fire for over 17 years, Mr. Kumar claimed.

“The previous regime (Rabri Devi Government) did not take any interest in speedy trial of the cases and was hell bent upon saving the perpetrators having close links with the RJD,” he charged. It was his NDA Government which reopened 29 cases after coming to power. The accused in these cases, which were in the final stages of trial, had gone scot-free for want of evidence , he said.- PTI

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Nitish demands compensation for Bhagalpur riot victims

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