Karnataka Chief Minister goes back on his word to pay Rs 10 lakhs to the kin of two people killed in police firing last week.
Jaleel Kudroli (49) and Nausheen Bengre (23) had been killed during anti-CAA protests in Mangaluru last week. Protesters had gathered despite prohibitory orders and had allegedly pelted stones at the police personnel on site and also set fire to some vehicles. However, in yet another example of possible display of disproportionate force in crowd control, it was alleged that instead of firing in the air, police personnel fired directly at the protesters.
On Sunday, Yediyurappa visited their families and announced ex gratia payment of Rs 10 lakhs each. However, late on Tuesday night, in a sudden U-turn, the Chief Minister decided against his own previous decision. The Telegraph reported him as saying, “We have not decided to give ex gratia to the families of those who died in police firing because it would be an unpardonable crime to give ex gratia to criminals. We had earlier taken a decision to pay the ex gratia. But it stands withdrawn.”
It appears the decision to not pay compensation came after the two deceased persons were named in a FIR. However, it is also possible that Yediyurappa’s decision was the result of pressure from the BJP’s central command. A section of the BJP had opposed his previous decision to offer compensation. In fact, the chief minister had already ordered a magisterial inquiry into Jaleel and Nausheen’s deaths.
Moreover, Yediyurappa had forbidden the police from getting violent with protesters after historian Ramchandra Guha and other civil society members were detained. The Karnataka CM had also not taken any action when more than 30 Muslim groups held a massive but peaceful protest in Bangalore recently. Therefore, it appears that he is succumbing to pressures from his party’s central command.