Bhagalpur riots commission starts functioning

Bhagalpur riots commission starts functioning
Patna | February 27, 2006 5:23:27 PM IST

The Commission headed by Justice (retired) N N Singh commenced its functioning from today to probe the 1989 communal riots in Bhagalpur.

The Commission will submit its report on the riots, which claimed over 1,000 lives and left in its wake a trail of devastation, within six months of its inception. However, the commission will be free to give an interim report before that.

The Bihar Government, yesterday, had appointed Justice N N Singh, , a retired judge of the Patna High Court, on the recommendation of the Chief Justice of the Patna High Court Justice J N Bhatt.

For the post of the Secretary of the Commission, a retired District and Sessions Judge Baikunth Nath Shahi has been appointed. The Commission will be assist by the two legal experts, a retired District Judge Chandrashekar Sharma and Patna Bar Council President Rajendra Singh.

On February 24, in special meeting of the Nitish Kumar Cabinet, chaired by the Chief Minister, had decided to get 27 cases of the communal riots re-investigated to bring the guilty to justice and punish the officials responsible for their acquittal despite existence of solid evidences against them.

Kumar had said that in accordance with the decision taken by the Cabinet, he would be writing to Patna High Court Chief Justice J N Bhatt to nominate a serving or retired judge of the High Court for a one-member panel to be constituted under the Commission of Inquiry Act.

Referring to the terms of reference of the commission, Kumar had said that the commission would probe all Bhagalpur riot cases afresh and examine the manner in which the prosecution and investigation agencies carried out their duties resulting in closure of the cases against the accused.

We have identified 27 cases in which closure reports have been filed by the prosecution agencies despite sufficient evidence against the accused, Kumar said.

Kumar had said that the commission would find out the reasons and circumstances under which the investigating police officials produced insufficient evidences and uncorroborated facts which led to the closure of the cases.

All the documents will be thoroughly perused and charges will be framed against the officials found guilty of dereliction of duty, ineffectiveness and prejudice, Kumar said.

The commission would also examine whether properties were sold out under pressure by the victims in the riot-hit areas and, if so, steps would be taken to return such property to the rightful owner and identify those guilty of indulging in strong-arm tactics to take possession of such properties.

The Chief Minister had said the commission would suggest a rehabilitation package detailing measures that should be taken for restoration of the lands, houses and other properties which were forcibly occupied during the riots.

Referring to the R N Prasad Commission of Inquiry instituted during the erstwhile Rashtriya Janta Dal Government, Kumar had said that the new panel would look into the suggestions and recommendations made by the previous commission and measures taken thereof for rehabilitation of the victims.

He had said that the commission, which would independently carry out the probe, would also be asked to submit its recommendations to avoid recurrence of such incidents in future. (ANI)

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Bihar CM seeks compensation package for Bhagalpur riot victims

New Delhi, June. 17 (PTI): Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar today met Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil and demanded an adequate rehabilitation and compensation package for the victims of the 1989 Bhagalpur riots on the lines of one given to the 1984 anti-Sikh riot victims.

Kumar, who had raised the issue with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in his earlier meetings, told Patil that many of the Bhagalpur riot victims were hand to mouth after being out of their business following the riot.

Source: http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/001200606172129.htm

White paper on Bhagalpur riot soon

White paper on Bhagalpur riot soon
Patna | January 15, 2006 1:39:16 PM IST

Bihar Government has decided to reopen the issue of Bhagalpur communal riot of 1989 and bring out a white paper incorporating details of actions taken by the government to book the perpetrators of crime as well as payment of compensations to victims' families.

State Chief Secretary G S Kang told newspersons here yesterday that a committee would be constituted under the chairmanship of home secretary to prepare the 'white paper' which would complete the assignment within two to three weeks.

''The committe would catalogue the status of cases instituted against the accused and persons chargesheeted or let off so far besides ascertaining the exact number of riot victims and compensation to be paid to them,'' he said.

The committee would also recommend to the government about the necessity of granting further compensation package to the relatives of the victims, he said and added that compensation had since been paid to the families of riot victims.

Earlier, LJP chief and Union Fertiliser minister Ram Vilas Paswan, during his electoral campaign, had raised fingers on the previous government for patronising the accused in cases relating to the riot for gaining political mileage.

The RJD chief and Railway Minister Lalu Prasad had, however, refuted the allegations saying that steps were taken to book the culprits and action taken report (ATR) related to the riot were submitted in 1995.

The NDA decided to have a fresh look into the issue in tune with the its pledge to bring out a white paper on Bhagalpur riots once it came to power.

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