Haryana govt hikes compensation for 1984 anti-Sikh riot victims

The Haryana government on Friday night decided to pay an additional sum of Rs 20 lakh to the kin of the 31 persons from Haud village in Haryana's Rewari district who were killed in the 1984 anti-Sikh riots, which took place in the aftermath of assassination of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.

The Haryana government on Friday night decided to pay an additional sum of Rs 20 lakh to the kin of the 31 persons from Haud village in Haryana's Rewari district who were killed in the 1984 anti-Sikh riots, which took place in the aftermath of assassination of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.

An official spokesperson said the government on Friday accepted the recommendations of Justice TP Garg (retd) Commission of Inquiry which submitted its report to chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar.

The one-man Commission of Inquiry was constituted by the previous state government on March 5, 2011 under the Commission of Inquiry Act to probe the incident of violence in which Sikhs from Haud Chillar were killed and their properties destroyed in November 1984.

The Commission of Inquiry was appointed following demands by Sikh bodies, including All India Sikh Students Federation (AISSF). The Commission received 273 petitions and examined 455 witnesses during the course of inquiry. The government has also decided to give six months extension to the Commission of Inquiry for Gurgaon and Pataudi cases, which were included in the scope of inquiry on the orders of the Punjab and Haryana high court.

The spokesperson said besides the payment of an additional amount of Rs.20 lakh over and above the amount already paid (which was Rs. 7 lakh paid till 2006-07) to the claimants of each of 31 deceased from Haud village, the state government would also pay a sum of Rs.25 lakh to the widow of a lone army man Inderjit Singh killed in the massacre. Singh's wife has not been paid any amount by way of compensation till date, the spokesperson said.

Besides, the state government will also pay an additional amount of Rs.5 lakh each to 36 petitioners for the loss of property. This amount will be over and above the amount of compensation already paid.

The spokesperson said a sum of Rs 50 lakh will be paid to a claimant, Satpal who filed his claim through his mother Ramesh Kumari on account of his having suffered 90 % disability due to skull injuries. An additional amount of Rs. one lakh will be paid to five claimants for simple injuries sustained during the incident.

It was also decided that a sum of Rs.5 lakh each be donated for Gurdwaras and Janj Ghars which were raised at a place where the majority of the survivors of Haud village were settled.