SHILLONG: The Meghalaya Human Rights Commission has asked the state government to pay compensation of Rs 2 lakh to each of the five deceased persons and Rs 50,000 each to the injured due to electrocution near Manikganj village of North Garo Hills in July.
In an interim order, the Commission said the victims have been identified as Jonaludin (35), Sanmia (36), Asraf A1i (35) and Sanwar Rehman (27), all belonging to Merarchor village in Bongaigaon, (Assam) and Depan Rabha (33) of Chotomiapara village under Mendipathar in North Garo Hills.
The commission also directed the government to pay compensation of Rs 50,000 to each of the five seriously injured labourers – Biren A1i (30), Sayed Ali (25), Omar A1i (40), Kowedh Ali (30) and Abibil Ahmed (19).
The order was issued after a recent hearing by the chairperson of the commission Justice (retired) AH Saikia and member PJP Hanaman.
The commission said compensation will have to be paid to the next of kin of the deceased through the deputy commissioner and as far as the injured persons are concerned, the interim relief will have to be paid individually through the deputy commissioner.
According to the commission, both the payments will have to be made within 60 days and the government is at liberty to approach the commission for modification or revocation of the interim relief as ordered.
The commission will hear the matter again on January 22.
Earlier in August, the commission had ordered a high-level probe into the death of the five persons.
The tragedy took place on July 25 when five labourers engaged in road construction work near Manikganj village were electrocuted and another five grievously injured when their road repair vehicle touched a high tension electrical wire that was lying low.
The commission had taken a suo motu cognisance of the matter based on the news report appeared in this daily and directed the chief secretary to start an inquiry into the matter by an officer not lower than the rank of secretary and to submit a report within 45 days.
Govt not serious
According to the commission, two communications, one on August 3 and another on October 5 have been put on record by which a report has been sought from the senior electrical inspector.
“Be it noted that the notice was, considering the gravity of the issue, sent to the chief secretary. The state commission is of the view that the matter has not been taken up seriously by the authority concerned,” the commission said.
