BS Yediyurappa backtracks, says no compensation till probe is over

Bengaluru: Karnataka chief minister BS Yediyurappa said the Rs 10-lakh compensation he had announced for the families of two people killed in Mangaluru during anti-Citizenship Amendment Act protests would not be paid until an investigation was over.

Yediyurappa said the police had named the two deceased as accused in a first information report. “We have not yet decided on giving them the compensation. In fact, to give compensation to the accused is an offence. Let the investigation be complete. Till then the government will not give money to the families,” he told reporters in Mangaluru on Wednesday. He said the government would not give any money if their involvement in the violence was proven.

Referring to some videos of the violence released by the Mangaluru Police, the CM said: “It is clear that the incident was a result of conspiracy. Senior police officials have shown to the world in detail what really happened on the day of violence.” Opposition leaders attacked the CM for his change in stance. “Since the chief minister has already come to a conclusion that the two deceased incited violence, why this drama of CID investigation? The government can stop the CID probe,” Congress leader Siddaramaiah said.