Missing statehood activists to get status of martyr: Rawat

Statehood activists missing since the days of agitation for a separate Uttarakhand will be granted the status of martyrs, Chief Minister Harish Rawat today said.
All cases where activists went missing during the peak of the agitation and did not resurface will be examined and the genuine ones will be given the status of martyrs, Rawat said.
He made the announcement during a programme to honour family members of martyred activists here.
The next of kin of the martyrs will be provided a certificate and an identity card each which will enable them to avail several facilities including bus passes.

The state government will also make arrangements for the medical treatment of their ailing parents, a release said quoting the chief minister.
In a first such programme by Uttarakhand government, family members of 25 statehood activists were honoured and given a cheque of Rs 51,000 each.