Ex gratia for firing victims put on hold

After the police released videos and photos of miscreants and communal elements destroying public property and instigating mob violence against the citizenship law on December 19, Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa on Wednesday annulled his earlier announcement that the relatives of those killed in police firing last week would be paid a compensation of Rs 10 lakh each.

Speaking to reporters, he categorically said the decision on compensation would be decided only after investigation into the violent incidents prove that the two people who were killed in police firing were truly innocent.

The family of the deceased and eye witnesses have claimed that the two were uninvolved in the agitation and were mere bystanders; yet, the police has named them as accused in FIR.

Yediyurappa had on Sunday announced a compensation of Rs. 10 lakh each to the kin of the two victims of police firing. He had also announced a CID as well as a magisterial inquiry into the violence. In the violence that rocked the city on December 19, Nausin, 23, and Jalil Kudroli, 49, were killed during a protest against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act and the proposed National Register of Citizens.

Yediyurappa has termed the Mangaluru violence as a premeditated conspiracy and said those directly involved in the violence will be arrested immediately and dealt with as per law. New evidence has emerged and the persons behind the conspiracy would not be spared, he said.

“As the real facts are before us, I will direct the police to immediately arrest those directly involved in the violence,” the Chief Minister said.