BHRC asks Bihar govt to pay Rs 1 lakh to man hit by bullet fired from police firing range

Speed Post News Network

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.