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Patna: Bihar Human Rights Commission (BHRC) on Wednesday directed the Home department of Bihar government to pay a compensation of Rs one lakh within two months to one Sunil Kumar Mahto of East Champaran, who was hit by a bullet fired from the police firing range on July 20, 2012, and suffered human rights violations. The commission also directed the DGP, Bihar, to fix the responsibility for the lapses and take appropriate action to prevent recurrence of such incidents.
Pashupati Devi, wife of Bhulen Mahto, village Jagapakar under Harsiddhi plic station in East Champaran district had complained to the Commission that while her son Sunil Kumar Mahto was working as a labourer along with others in the half built house of one Ram Prakash Mishra at village Raghunathpur on July 20, 2012, 20.07.2012, he was hit in the back by a bullet coming from the Police Firing Range located nearby where firing practice was going on. She complained that her son was not given any compensation for the expenses on treatment and even his long pending wages were not paid by the house owner.
The BHRC had asked for responses from DM & SP, East Champaran, on December 7, 2013,followed by reminders. Responses received from them corroborate that Sunil Kumar Mahto was hit by a stray bullet from the nearby police firing range. A case was registered by Turkaulia police station aginst unknown on July 27, 2012, in this regard. Finding no clue, final report was submitted in the case on February 24, 2013. Reports from DM & SP, East Champaran, do not mention anything about compensation paid to the victim or about fixation of responsibility for the omission /lack of security precautions taken during police firing practice, said BHRC member Neelmani. The BHRC has also directed the Labour Resources department to request Labour Court, Motihari, for expeditious disposal of the case. The BHRC has listed the matter on October 31, 2016.