Ragailong blast victims left in the lurch

IMPHAL, Jul 4: Out of 18 persons who lost their lives in the Ragailong bomb blast last year, the family mem-bers of eight victims have not received any compen-sation from the side of the State or the Central Govern-ment while from among the injured only 16 have been compensated by the State Government.

In all 18 persons lost their lives while 38 others sus-tained injuries in the power- ful bomb blast that took place near Ragailong Vil-lage gate at around 7.30 pm on October 25 last year.


It had been announced that Rs 3 lakhs would be provided by the Centre to next of kins of those killed in the blast and another Rs 1 lakh each from the side of the State Government. For the injured, it was assured that Rs 50,000 each would be provided from the Prime Mi-nister’s Relief Fund and the State Government.

However, so far family members of 8 victims have not received the assured sum neither from the Prime Minister’s Relief Fund nor from the side of the State Government.

Among the injured too, while 16 of them received at least Rs 10,000 each, if not the assured compensation amount of Rs 50,000, through the JAC formed in connection with the inci-dent, the remaining 22 persons are yet to receive compensation from the side of the State Government.

Talking to mediapersons in this connection at Hatta here today, the family members of the victims highlighted difficulties being faced by them and called upon the Government to provide the assured compensation amount at the earliest possible.

Meimuna Bebi, whose 30-year old son Habibur Rahaman sustained injuries and subsequently lost his eye sight in the blast said Rahaman has not received anything from the Prime Minister’s Relief Fund nor from the State Government.

Apart from losing eye sight, Meimuna Bebi informed that left side body of Rahaman has been paralysed and for his treatment including injuries on his head all the family land and shop have been sold off.

Ringwan Shimray, who also sustained injuries in the bomb blast, lamented that though memorandum had been submitted to the Prime Minister, the Governor of Manipur and the Chief Minister on May 30 urging for giving the assured compensation amount and providing suitable jobs to the family members of the victims among other demands, no response has been received till date.

[SE/05-07-09]