Maharashtra asked to pay compensation to families of killed migrants

NEW DELHI: The NHRC on Thursday rapped Maharashtra government for "failing to take timely action" to protect two migrants who were killed during an agitation by MNS against north-Indians in 2008 and directed it to pay a compensation of Rs five lakh each to the families.

Asking the state government to submit a compliance report along with proof of payment of compensation within eight weeks, the rights body noted, "it is unfortunate that the state government did not muster the political will to rein in divisive forces.

"The Maharashtra Government failed to take timely action for protection of citizens in the wake of hate campaign launched against migrants in the state by the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena activists in the State (in February 2008," the National Human Rights Commission observed.

Rejecting the state government's plea of monetary constraint, it observed "the persons who lost their life were poor labourers. Their families have lost bread earners and the government cannot evade its liability to give appropriate relief on the ground of financial constraints."

Observing that it was the "constitutional duty" of the state government to safeguard the lives of the migrant people, it held that the state government failed to take timely action to protect the two persons when a campaign for hatred had been launched against non-Maharashtrians in the region.

Vinod Singh, a security guard in Jindal Company, lost his life in violence at Nasik on February 13. Amba Das died after being injured during stone pelting by a mob on a bus carrying him and his colleagues of HAL on Mumbai-Nasik highway the same day.