Activists working for Bhopal gas victims demand for more compensation

Activists of the Bhopal Group of Information and Action (BGIA), a voluntary forum crusading for Bhopal gas tragedy victims, have asked Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to set up a special prosecution cell for further investigation into the probe.

They said a trial court had given the least possible punishment to the accused.

"We expect that because the Prime Minister has authority over the CBI , he should establish a special prosecution cell. And, the first thing that the special prosecution cell should do is to increase the punishment given to the individuals accused and the fine on the company (Union Carbide)," said Satinath Sarangi, President, Bhopal Group of Information and Action.

Quoting Law Minister Veerappa Moily, Sarangi said it wasn't a case of justice denied, but of justice buried.

He further asked the Prime Minister to pressurise US President Barack Obama into taking stern action against Union Carbide and its former chairman Warren Andreson.

On Monday, a District Magistrate''s Court in Bhopal had convicted all eight accused on grounds of negligence under Section 304 (a) for the tragedy.

The court also granted bail to seven of the eight accused and released them on submission of a bond and a surety of Rs 25,000 each.

The eight accused are Keshub Mahendra, Vijay Gokhle, Kishore Kamdar, J Mukund, S P Choudhary, K V Shetty and S I Qureshi and R B Roy Choudhary.

Out of the accused R B Roy Choudhary, then former Assistant Works Manager Union Carbide India Ltd (UCIL), Mumbai, died during the trial. Warren Andreson, the chairman of Union Carbide Worldwide, has been designated as absconder.