Blackberry tree owner to get compensation

Patna: The Bihar Human Rights Commission (BHRC) on Thursday awarded a compensation of Rs 25,000 to a Gopalganj resident after a ‘jamun’ (blackberry) tree on his premises was unlawfully cut and sold by a police sub-inspector (SI).
Janak Dubey, a resident of Gopalganj, had filed a complaint with the commission alleging that the tree was cut down by SI Uday Narayan Singh of Mahammedpur police station in April 2013 in connivance with his neighbour Surendra Singh, who had encroached upon his land.“The SI did not enter it in station dairy and even sold it,” BHRC member Neelmani said, adding that inquiry confirmed the SI’s involvement in the matter.
The commission had asked the SI to appear in person on April 27, but to no avail. Hence, the BHRC directed the state home department to pay a compensation of Rs 25,000 to the petitioner, Janak Dubey, within two months and initiate departmental proceedings against the erring SI.
“Subject to the outcome of departmental proceedings against Singh, the amount of compensation should be recovered from him in a manner deemed fit by Gopalganj SP,” Neelmani said. The case is listed next on July 12.