Mehbooba Mufti assures relief to kin of protesters killed during protests

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In an apparent bid to satiate the BJP, Mehbooba also expressed her desire to provide ex-gratia relief to the next of kin of those who killed during the 2008 Amarnath land row, and one Chamail Singh, killed in Pakistan jail.

Pointing out that most of those killed during the five-month unrest, sparked off by the killing of militant Burhan Wani in July, were youths, Mehbooba said her government will also be responsible for the education and rehabilitation of those who have got their eyesight damaged – fully or partially.

Referring in this connection to the widow of a lecturer who was shot dead in Khrew, Mehbooba said, “Bahut garib ghar hai, sir. Aisey ghar ko rehabilitate na karoun to main kya karoun?’’ (Sir, they are a very poor family. If I do not rehabilitate that family, what else will I do).”

Mehbooba had first announced the ex-gratia in the Assembly last week while winding up discussion on the opposition’s adjournment motion. The BJP had opposed the announcement, with several party MLAs calling it a move to “reward anti-nationals and demoralise the security forces”. Seventy-six people had died and many more injured during the unrest; property worth more than Rs 16,000 crore were damaged.