JKNPP demands Rs 1 cr ex gratia for 'martyrs' from state

The JKNPP today demanded an ex gratia of Rs 1 crore for the families of those killed in the line of duty from the state, including sub-inspector Imran Tak who was killed in a shootout with militants on Friday.
The Jammu and Kashmir National Panthers Party (JKNPP) chairman Harsh Dev Singh also alleged that the PDP-BJP government had a "callous" attitude towards the families of those killed while protecting the country.
"We urge the government to announce a Rs 1 crore ex gratia to martyrs in Jammu and Kashmir and demand that the family of Imran Tak and others be granted the amount," he told reporters here today.

"The state government has been callous towards the state's martyrs who had sacrificed their lives for the motherland," alleged Singh, a former minister.
He alleged that while the BJP-PDP alliance continues to dole out incentives and jobs to surrendered militants and dependents of deceased anti-nationals, it preferred to remain "tight-lipped over the announcement of ex gratia for the families of martyrs".
The tall promises of Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh to provide ex gratia of Rs 1 crore has not been implemented on the ground, Singh claimed.

He alleged that while other states honoured their "martyrs" and gave adequate ex gratia, the J-K government "showed empty coffers" to the bereaved families.

The JKNPP chairman claimed that over 1,500 police personnel had been killed in the valley since insurgency broke out in the late 80's and several homes had been ransacked by suspected militants in recent months.
"But the announcement of ex gratia and other benefits are yet to be gievn," he said.