Assam govt to pay Rs 20 lakh to officials killed on poll duty

Assam government today announced an ex-gratia of up to Rs 20 lakh to all officials killed during election duty in extremist violence.
In an official release, the government said it has sanctioned grants for the next of kin of the deceased or injured personnel belonging to the state and central governments - including Army, CRPF, central para-military force (CPMF) and state police personnel.
"An amount of Rs 20 lakh shall be paid if the death is unfortunately caused in any violent act of extremist or factors like road mines, bomb blasts and armed attacks etc," the release said.
As per memorandum issued in this connection, an amount of Rs 10 lakh will be paid to the next of kin of the officials in the event of death on election duty, the release said.

"An amount of Rs 5 lakh shall be paid to those officials in the case of permanent disability like loss of limb, eye sight etc in course of performance of election duty," the release said.
"The amount of the compensation should be doubled in the case of such mishaps caused by extremist or unsocial elements like road mines, bomb blasts, armed attacks etc," it added.

Besides, Rs 50,000 will be paid to the persons engaged in election duty receiving non-grievous injuries from a fire arm or any other weapon or in bomb explosion or by any other incident during election duty.

The Chief Electoral Officer of the state is authorised to issue sanction the payment of ex-gratia grant on the basis of proposals from District Election Officers or Deputy Commissioners.
The order will remain in force till the date of announcement of result of the election on May 16.