Forgotten dead: Slain cops' kin yet to get compensation

Police were quick to announce compensation to the family of Subhash Chand Tomar, the constable who died after protests at India Gate, though they will have to make sure the amount reaches the family at the earliest. Faizan Haider and Ritam Halder report.

Police were quick to announce compensation to the family of Subhash Chand Tomar, the constable who died after protests at India Gate, though they will have to make sure the amount reaches the family at the earliest.

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Families of constables earlier killed in action often did not receive promised compensations, it has emerged.

"My son was stabbed to death this September but the compensation promised by the police is still to come. They claim the file is pending with the lieutenant governor," Dharmveer Singh, father of constable Bijendra Singh, said.

"The swiftness the police showed in Tomar's case is encouraging, but they should respect the other police personnel who died while on duty," Dharmveer added.

Singh was killed on September 11 when four persons attacked him and other police personnel with knives. "A compensation of nearly R20 lakh was announced but nothing has reached us so far. Our request for a job is yet to be processed," Dharmveer added.

One stab near the heart proved fatal for Bijendra and he died of excessive bleeding.

Head constable Ramkishan was shot dead in Kanjhawala when he stopped a car for a routine check last month. Bharat Singh, Ramkishan's brother, said his family was yet to receive the promised ex gratia sum of R10 lakh.

"Top police officers, including joint commissioner of police Tejender Luthra, had attended my brother's funeral near Surajmal Stadium," Bharat said, adding that a job had been promised but not given.

Crime branch to probe death
The investigations into the death of constable Subhash Chand Tomar has been handed over to the crime branch.

The move comes a day after police turned the attempt-to-murder case into one of murder.

"The case has been transferred to the crime branch," Delhi police spokesperson Rajan Bhagat said. He did not explain why the move was made.