Families of troopers killed in Pulwama terror strike given over Rs 1 crore: CRPF

The Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) on Friday said that the family members of 40 of its personnel killed in Jammu and Kashmir's Pulwama suicide bombing have been paid over Rs 1 crore and would also be provided ex-gratia amount announced by the respective native states to which they belong.

The force said it would shortly launch a special mobile application being designed specifically for redressal of grievances relating to the family of those personnel.

An ex-gratia amount of Rs 35 lakh from Central government, Risk Fund and Central Welfare Fund of Rs 21.50 lakh, Bharat Ke Veer fund of over Rs 15 lakh and State Bank of India's Paramilitary Salary Package worth Rs 30 lakh have been provided to the "next of kin" of each CRPF personnel killed in the terror attack, said a CRPF statement.

It said that the family members of the killed personnel will also get an ex-gratia amount announced by the respective native state to which they belong.

In addition, the statement said, the financial benefits extended by various state governments and non government agencies are being paid to them "immediately".

"Liberalized Pension Award (LPA) to all 40 families equal to last basic pay including the dearness allowance will be paid to them lifelong. The family members of the CRPF personnel have also been offered jobs by some state governments. They will also be entitled for compassionate appointment in CRPF," said the statement.

Various government and semi-government institutions have volunteered to take care of education of wards of the slain CRPF personnel, it added.

The force, unlike previous occasions, issued the statement in the backdrop of reports that some family members of the slain personnel have blamed the Centre of not extending any help to them.

The CRPF personnel were killed after a suicide bomber hit a car packed with explosives to a bus carrying them was moving on the Jammu and Srinagar highway on February 14. The bus was part of a 78-vehicle convoy. Pakistan-based terror outfit Jaish-e-Mohammed has taken the responsibility of the attack.

--IANS

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