The Andhra Pradesh government on Friday gave compensation to 61 people who were acquitted or let off in the 2007 Mecca Masjid bomb blast case here but most of them demanded action against police officers for allegedly torturing them.
The compensation of `3 lakhs each was given to 15 acquitted people, while `20,000 each was given to 46 people who were let off by police after interrogation, officials said.
State minorities welfare minister Mohammed Ahmadulla gave the cheques to the victims at a function organised by his department. Fourteen people were killed in the blasts and subsequent police firing. Five persons will be considered for payment of compensation after review and disposal of cases pending against them, the officials said.
Thanking chief minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy for the compensation, All-India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen leader Akbaruddin Owaisi sought withdrawal of some other cases in which they have been named. He demanded action against police officers who allegedly falsely implicated the youth in the Mecca Masjid case. Those who received the compensation sought action against police officers for “torturing” them. — PTI
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Indian, Lankan navies hold meet
Colombo, Jan. 6: India and Sri Lanka have held an annual international maritime boundary line meeting, aimed at strengthening naval relationship, as both the countries grapple to to deal with poaching by each other’s fishermen.
The 20th International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL) meeting between the two countries were held yesterday on-board the Indian coast guard ship Vajra at the Indo-Sri Lanka Maritime Boundary Line off the northern coast of Kankasanthurai, Lankan navy said today.
The IMBL meeting is an annual event aimed at strengthening the naval relationship between the two neighbouring countries.
During this year’s session, matters of mutual interests related to naval operations and fishing activities conducted in the Palk Strait and the Gulf of Mannar sea areas were discussed, the Navy spokesman Commander Kosala Warnakulasuriya said.
Sri Lanka Navy since mid December has rescued several Indian fishing boats and facilitated the repatriation of the distressed fishermen.
Poaching by each other’s fishermen in IMBL has been a recurring problem for the two Navies. — PTI