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| Protesters block Jammu-Pathankot highway demanding Compensation, jobs security | | |  Early Times Report
Jammu, June 20: Jammu, June 20 The family members of two persons who died during cremation of a Coronavirus positive patient on Saturday staged a protest and blocked the highway in Gangyal area here on city outskirts.
The protesters raised anti-government and anti-administration slogans demanding job security to one of the family members of the deceased and a compensation of Rs 25 lakhs.
Two persons had died under mysterious circumstances on Thursday afternoon after one of their close relatives, who was coronavirus patient, was being cremated in Sidhra area.
The District Magistrate had also ordered an inquiry into the matter and appointed Additional District Magistrate Law and Order Jammu as inquiry officer. Meanwhile, the family members of both the deceased assembled at Gangyal area on Jammu highway and staged a protest.
The family members said that government has reportedly announced ex-gratia, which is not acceptable to them. “We demand that a fair probe be conducted into the matter,” the protesters said. Meanwhile, the officials said that protest broke out after the bodies of both the victims reached their home for cremation.
“After a gap of two days, we have received bodies and no government officer bothered to meet us at a time when we are passing through a tragic time,” the protesting family members further said. Jammu district administration on Saturday extended ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh to each of the next of kins of the deceased on “humanitarian” ground. “On humanitarian grounds, District Administration will extend exgratia of Rs 2 lakhs to each of the NOKs of the two persons who died in the unfortunate incident that took place during cremation of COVID positive patient,” Sushma Chauhan, District Magistrate, Jammu here said.
However, ordering magisterial probe into the matter, District Magistrate, Sushma Chauhan said that it has been brought to her notice that during the cremation of a dead body (on account of COVID related death), two persons accompanying the body for last rites, became unconscious and subsequently passed away in mysterious circumstances.
The ADM, Jammu, shall submit his report by June 22 and it is needless to say, he shall take statements of all relevant public and private persons related to the incident, adding, “the report shall be furnished with conclusive findings of the special Board of Doctors constituted for such purpose”.
Senior BJP leader and former legislator Vikram Randhawa, who joined the protest, said those responsible for the “failure” to protect the lives of the people should be taken to task.
Local Municipal Corporator Baldev Singh Billawaria said it is very unfortunate that the administration has failed to identify a suitable place till date for the cremation of the COVID-19 victims despite witnessing unpleasant situations during the cremation of the COVID-19 victims in the past.
Senior police and civil officers rushed to the scene and after hectic efforts of several hours managed to clear the highway for traffic, officials said.
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