Srinagar: The State Human Rights Commission has directed government to pay Rs 3 lakh as compensation to a man who was ten-years of age when he lost his leg to a mine blast in Kupwara district in 1996.
Disposing a petition filed by the victim, Zakir Hussain son of Mohammad Maqbool Sheikh of Prada Karnah Kupwara, chairperson SHRC Justice (retd) Bilal Nazki has termed as “shameful” the state government relief of Rs 25000 paid to him as ex-gratia relief.
“Government and army both have accepted that (Zakir) has suffered the injury in mine blast. Government also accepted that the person is innocent. I have seen him and also perused the disability certificate, one of his leg is amputated below knee and another leg is mutilated due to injury,” the SHRC said.
It added: “It is shameful that the government has paid relief of only rupees twenty five thousand to the person who lost his leg.”
Subsequently, the Commission directed the government to pay a compensation of RS 3 lakhs to Zakir in addition to Rs. 25,000 already paid as ex-gratia.
The commission said that the order be sent to Chief Secretary and Principal Secretary to Chief Minister “so that the matter is also brought to the notice of Chief Minister.”
