Where is our reward money, villagers ask
BHOPAL: Nearly a year since eight SIMI activists were killed in an encounter outside Bhopal after escaping from jail, the promised reward to villagers who helped the Madhya Pradesh police trace its targets remains elusive, making them “angry and frustrated”.
Five villagers, who are also prime witnesses for the police in the case, were promised ₹8 lakh each and felicitated by chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan. A separate reward was announced for police officers who were part of the encounter and those on duty in the area on October 31.
“The chief minister had announced reward of ₹40 lakh for us. But where is the money? We thought we would get it soon, but officials are silent now. What are they waiting for... even the commission (probing the encounter) has submitted its report (giving a clean chit to the police).” sarpanch of Khejradev village, Mohan Meena said.
The village is at the foot of the hillock outside Acharpura where the encounter took place.
“I was the first to spot them and call the police,” recalls Meena, the then sarpanch of Acharpura who is protected by an armed guard round the clock.
But the “threat” to his life has had little impact on him. “If death has to come, it will. I haven’t changed my routine in any way,” he said, and swears by the statement he gave to police.
Padam Singh Meena, sarpanch of Itakhedi village, is less concerned. “Yes, it is taking time, but since the government has announced it, we will get it.”
The other three — Gyan Singh Meena, Hemraj Ahirwar and Vinod Meena — also confirmed they too are waiting for the reward money and say they have heard nothing from the officials.
When principal secretary (home) KK Singh was asked about the villagers’ claim, he said, “As per the guidelines of the Supreme Court, if a judicial probe is ordered in any case, rewards and awards should be put on hold until the completion of the inquiry. On the basis of the findings of the (retd justice Pandey’s) report, the reward will be given to villagers and the police personnel.”