New Delhi, September 20: The Assam government has paid a compensation of Rs 5 lakh each to the kin of two persons killed in alleged police firing in Karbi Anglong district two years ago, the NHRC said today. Ram Nath Chauhan, an advocate, and Jawahar Singh Gour had become victims of “excessive use of fire arms against protesters by the police” in Mailo under Kheroni police station area in Karbi Anglong district of Assam on August 16, 2008, it said.
The Commission took up the case on the basis of a complaint filed by an NGO later and after considering various reports and the materials on record, it directed the Assam government to pay a monetary relief of Rs 5 lakh each to the next of the kin of the deceased. “The government of Assam has submitted a compliance report (saying) that it has paid Rs 5 lakh each to the next of kin of the two deceased,” the NHRC said in a statement here.
The Commission noted that one homeguard jawan, without any orders from his officers, had opened fire on an unruly mob critically injuring Chouhan and Gour outside a police post. After the incident, the duo was rushed to a hospital but they succumbed to their injuries mid-way.
Chouhan had gone to the police post to get his motorcycle released after it was seized by a police team following his altercation with a policeman. A large number of people subsequently came to the police post, started raising slogan against police and turned violent before the homeguard jawan opened fire at them, the Commission noted.
—PTI—