Goa compensates villagers for human rights violation

Acting on the directives of the apex human rights body, the Goa government has paid Rs.5,000 each to 737 residents of a village in the state for violating their rights during a protest against illegal mining.

A National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) statement said the state government paid Rs.36,85,000 to the residents of Carvem village in south Goa who were baton charged by police while protesting. Proof of payment was submitted to the rights panel.

Two members of a family refused the money while three people had died.

The commission directed that the payment should be made to the primary heirs of the three deceased village residents.

In a complaint to NHRC, the villagers had alleged that they were suffering from air and noise pollution as the mining truck owners and companies were plying their vehicles beyond the stipulated time.

In response to the commission's notice, the state government admitted that some truck owners had violated rules and action was taken against them.