NHRC awards Rs 5 lakh to biker’s kin, Jung hikes it to Rs 50 lakh

Now, in a letter to Delhi Police Commissioner B S Bassi on October 9, a Delhi government Home Ministry functionary has said Lt-Governor Najib Jung has sanctioned payment of “monetary relief of Rs 50 lakh” to Pandey’s next of kin.

The letter also says the L-G has directed Bassi to take departmental action against the inspector involved in the incident.

The NHRC took strong note of the evidence, which pointed to “negligence and error of judgement” on the part of a Delhi Police inspector, who had opened fire at the rear tyre of the motorbike which resulted in the death of Pandey who was riding pillion (it was being driven by Puneet Sharma). The NHRC concluded that “there was unnecessary use of force — opening fire — which was disproportionate to the amount to threat to the PCR personnels’ life”.

It had also questioned the police claim that they fired only after the youths started pelting stones at the police party. The youths were allegedly part of a group of bikers who were performing stunts in the high-security area.

Awarding compensation of Rs 5 lakh to Pandey’s next of kin, the NHRC headed by former Chief Justice of India K G Balakrishnan had asked the Chief Secretary to submit the action-taken report on the departmental proceedings initiated against the police officers, along with the proof of payment, within six weeks.

“I don’t think there has been any instance, at least in my memory, of a state government revising our recommendation by such a level on its own. Many states, in fact, refuse to accept our recommendation. This is a welcome step,” a senior NHRC functionary said.

Kin of constable shot by burglars to get Rs 1 crore in compensation

New Delhi: Lieutenant-Governor Najeeb Jung on Wednesday announced a Rs 1-crore compensation to the next of kin of Constable Jagbir Singh, who was shot dead by burglars in Vijay Vihar, Outer Delhi, on Monday. “I pay tribute to the departed soul, who laid down his life while serving our nation. May his family bear the loss with strength and fortitude,” Jung said in a tribute on Wednesday. The decision comes a day after AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal wrote to Jung demanding Rs 1-crore compensation for the constable’s next of kin, an initiative taken by the 49-day AAP government in Delhi. The Congress too had sought financial assistance for the family of the dead constable. Singh (42) was shot dead by a gang of five burglars when he and another constable tried to apprehend them. His colleague, Narendra (41), was injured in the incident.  ENS