Aid, jobs announced for victims of Haryana village violence

HISAR - Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda Tuesday announced compensation of Rs.10 lakh each and employment to a family member of the two people killed in an arson attack in this district last Wednesday.

A 70-year-old man and his 18-year-old physically challenged daughter were killed after they sustained burn injuries and at least 15 houses were damaged in an attack by members of the Jat community on Dalit families in Mirchpur village of the district.

Hooda, who met the members of the victim\’s families in the village, assured them that strict action would be taken against the accused and concrete steps would be taken to prevent the recurrence of such happenings in future.

\”The chief minister has also announced employment to a member of the deceased\’s family,\” a government spokesman said, adding that those injured would get financial assistance of Rs. 25,000 and free treatment. Damages to houses and domestic goods would be fully compensated.

\”Besides, two quintals of wheat will be given to each family that was attacked,\” the state spokesman said

Police had arrested 25 people after the attack, which they termed due to an old enmity between the two communities. A case has been registered against the accused under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.

Hooda assured the victims that the guilty would not be spared at any cost, however influential they might be. \”We made an earnest appeal to the people to maintain communal harmony and brotherhood in the village and to not allow any mischievous element to disturb the peace and tranquility of the village,\”he said.

The chief minister also announced that a police battalion would be deployed in the village till restoration of complete peace in the area.