Gujarat: Home department, superintendent of police notified over delay in paying compensation

VadODARA: A civil court in Chhota Udepur has issued show cause notice to the state home department and Chhota Udepur superintendent of police (SP) as well for delay in payment of compensation to the kin of mob lynching victims.
The notice by additional civil judge Atul Kumar has asked the SP, home department and police sub-inspector to reply within four weeks as to why they shouldn’t be committed to civil prison.
“The court had granted compensation to the families of two of the victims in March last year. But when they didn’t get the compensation, I filed an application against the respondents on behalf of the victims’ families. The court took notice of the fact that its order of giving compensation wasn’t executed,” said advocate Deepak Shah, who is representing the victims’ families.
Chhota Udepur SP Dharmendra Sharma told TOI, “We have written to the home department which is consulting the legal department whether to file an appeal in the higher court or award compensation. We will file a reply within the stipulated time frame.” Three men were detained in Pavi Jetpur taluka by the police in 2009 on basis of a complaint by the locals who suspected them to be thieves.
After word spread, a mob gathered and began pelting stones on the trio. It was alleged by the victims’ families that the cops present at the spot didn’t do enough to save the deceased.