SRINAGAR: The PDP-BJP coalition government in Jammu and Kashmir on Wednesday disclosed that no compensation has been paid to the family of slain Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani over his or his brother’s killing.
“No ex-gratia relief has been paid by the government to the next of kins (NoKs) of slain Khalid Muzaffar Wani and his 21-year-old brother Burhan Muzaffar Wani, who was a Hizbul Mujahideen commander and was killed in an encounter with security forces on July 8 last year,” J&K Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti, who also holds Home portfolio, informed J&K Legislative Assembly in a written response to a query by BJP legislator, Rajiv Jasrotia.
The coalition government had in November last year cleared ex-gratia relief to next of kin (NoK) of Khalid Muzaffar Wani – Burhan’s brother, who was killed by security forces in April last year.
According to Deputy Commissioner Pulwama, cases for exgratia of 27 slain persons were placed for clearance before District Level Screening-cum-Consultative Committee (DLSCC) on 24/11/2016 under admissible rules on account of death/injury/property damage cases and SRO-43 cases in favour of next of kins of the persons, who died in militancy related incidents or whose property was damaged in such incidents in South Kashmir's Pulwama district.
Of the 27 cases, 17 cases of exgratia to next of kin of the slain persons were cleared by the panel. Among the cases cleared was Khalid Muzaffar Wani son of Mohammad Muzaffar Wani of Tral in South Kashmir’s Pulwama district, who was killed in security forces firing in Buchoo forest area of Tral on April 13, 2015. He was pursuing Masters Degree in Political Science from the Indira Gandhi National Open University when he was killed.
After Khalid was killed, army had claimed that he was an over-ground worker of Hizbul Mujahideen and killed in an encounter. However, locals had denied the army version and said he was a civilian with no links to militancy and was killed for being brother of Burhan.
Burhan, a wanted Hizbul commander, was killed in an encounter with security forces in Kokernag area of South Kashmir on July 8 last year. His killing triggered over five months long unrest in the Valley during which 94 people including two policemen were killed and over 13000 injured.
No relief sanctioned to NoKs of Uri attack
The CM in her written response informed the Legislative Assembly that exgratia for the NoKs of soldiers killed in militant attack on army base in Uri in September last year has not been sanctioned yet.
“The ex-gatia cases in response of NoKs of Uri attack have not been received by the Home department from the concerned units/authorities,” she said.
At least 19 soldiers were killed after four heavily armed militants suspected to be members of Jaish-e-Mohammad stormed a well-fortified army base in Uri, close to Line of Control (LoC) on September 18 last year. All the four attackers were also killed in the retaliatory firing.
Rs 1.66 Cr relief sanctioned for NoKs of soldiers
The J&K government disclosed that ex-gratia relief Rs 1.66 crores has been sanctioned in favour of NoKs of 77 army/central armed paramilitary forces personnel killed in the State since January 2015 till date. “The amount is disbursed among the beneficiaries through the concerned Commanding Officer,” it stated.
The government stated that NoKs of only those army and central para military forces, who get killed within the territorial jurisdiction of the State in militancy incidents, violence attributable to breach of law and order including while on leave/inter station movement, are eligible for sanction of ex-gratia.
“A compensation of Rs 5 lakh is provided to NoKs of soldier, who belongs to J&K and is killed in the State. An amount of Rs 2 lakhs is provided as relief to NoKs of non-state subject soldier killed in the State,” it further stated.