Responding to the attacking opposition MLAs, minister of state Narendra Shivaji Patel said “The police never said that the slain man was a Maoist or their sympathizer. A standing order of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) makes the magisterial enquiry of every encounter mandatory. In accordance with it, a magisterial probe, which was instituted on March 12, will cover 11 points, including some of those aspects raised by the opposition legislators today.”“While the issue of whether he (Hiran Partha) was a Maoist cadre or not needs to be probed, the state’s CM, while showing sensitivity has sanctioned Rs 10 lakh to the deceased tribal’s family. Allow the investigation report to come, if the findings reveal that the deceased man wasn’t even a Maoist sympathizer or supporter, then one adult member of the family will be given a government job and if required Rs One crore will also be given to the family,” the minister added.Reacting to the minister’s statements, the leader of opposition Umang Singhar (who is the fourth time tribal MLA and ex-minister) said, “The CM released Rs 10 lakh for the family and now the minister is saying it still needs to be probed whether he (Hiran Partha) was a Maoist or their supporter. The minister needs to tell us whether the Rs 10 lakh has been given to the family of Maoist or an innocent tribal.”Some members, including the lone Bhartiya Adivasi Party (BAP) MLA Kamleshwar Dodiyar questioned when an assistant sub inspector of police recently killed in an attack by mob in Mauganj district recently can be given Rs One crore as a martyr, then why can’t similar sum be sanctioned to the family of a tribal. “The cost of a cop’s life is Rs One Crore, while the cost of an innocent tribal’s life is just Rs 10 lakh,” he questioned.Unsatisfied by the minister’s reply, the Congress MLAs trouped into the well of the House and later walked out.
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