Action taken against 13 cops, most victims have got relief: CM
AMRITSAR: Punjab chief minister Captain Amarinder Singh on Monday said departmental action has already been initiated against six police officers and seven employees of the Amritsar municipal corporation had been charge-sheeted in the 2018 Amritsar train tragedy case.
“Necessary action has been ordered against police and civic body personnel who were found guilty of dereliction of duty on that fateful day, based on the findings of the magisterial inquiry report,” the state government said in a statement.
A magisterial inquiry into the incident wherein about 61 people were mowed down by a train on October 19, 2018, was conducted by divisional commissioner Jalandhar, B Purushartha, on the orders of the chief minister.
Taking cognizance of recent reports, the CM clarified that due action, as per the law, was being taken against those found guilty, and there was no question of brushing aside the matter or burying the inquiry report, as alleged in a section of the media.
“My government is also taking all possible steps to prevent the recurrence of such incidents, said Captain, pointing out that detailed guidelines were issued to police and local government officers suggesting corrective measures, including creation of a single window/authority to accept applications and grant permissions for such events.
“It may be recalled that immediately after the accident, the CM had ordered a compensation of Rs 5 lakh to dependents of each of the deceased, with Rs 50,000 compensation for those injured. Of the Rs 2.9 crore placed at the disposal of deputy commissioner Amritsar for disbursal to the kin of the deceased, Rs. 2.6 crore had already been disbursed. In one case, all four members of a family had died and their legal heirs could not be verified,” reads the note. Further, the identification of the legal heir of one deceased remained disputed and identity of one victim could not be established, it reads further.
Of the 71 injured, compensation for three victims was under process due to non-availability of their residential addresses, the spokesperson added.