New Delhi: For the first time, the victims of cross-border firing along the Indo-Pakistan border in the north Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir will get a compensation of Rs500,000 (Dh27,367), similar to those who die due to terrorism or left-wing extremism violence.
Currently, there is no scheme to compensate victims of cross-border firing.
The Cabinet meeting chaired by the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday gave its approval to enhance the grant of compensation under “central scheme for assistance to civilian victims of terrorist, communal, left-wing extremist (LWE), cross-border firing and mine or improvised explosive devices (IED) blasts on Indian territory” from Rs300,000 to Rs500,000.
“It is a historic decision by the Modi government. It gives a message to them [citizens] the central government cares for them [and the measure] will go in a long way,” Minister of State in Prime Minister’s Office Jitendra Singh said while announcing the measure.
Approximately 770km of the Line of Control and approximately 220km of the international border have been witness to frequent ceasefire violations and the influx of terrorists since 1990.
More than 50 civilians die every year due to shelling and cross-border firing along the Indo-Pak order in Jammu and Kashmir. As many as 13,921 civilians were reported to have died until last year.
A total of 168 civilians were killed due to naval violence in Maoist-hit states in 2015.
“Now onwards, any civilian who dies anywhere in the country due to terror attack, LWE violence, firing from across the border, shelling or IED explosion will be given Rs5 lakh [Rs500,000] as compensation uniformly. The amount will be given to the next of kin of the victim,” an official release said.
The amount will also be given to those who suffer 50 per cent or more disability or incapacitation due to the same reasons, it said.
