Slain CRPF Jawan's Kins Turn Down Bihar Govt's Ex-Gratia of 5 Lakh

The family members of slain CRPF jawan Mujahid Khan, who died fighting militants in Jammu and Kashmir on Monday, turned down a cheque of Rs 5 lakh from the Bihar government on 14 February, saying it was "demeaning" as Army personnel killed in such incidents get Rs 11 lakh.

The cheque was given to Khan's family in Bhojpur district's Piro Tehsil where the slain CRPF constable's body was brought on Wednesday morning and the funeral held with full police honours.

Khan was killed in a gunbattle with militants who had attacked the camp of the CRPF’s 23rd Battalion at Karan Nagar in Srinagar on 12 February, 2018.

"Khan’s family has refused to accept the cheque. They are of the view that when Army personnel killed in such incidents were given Rs 11 lakh ex-gratia, the substantially lower amount of ex-gratia for paramilitary force jawans was demeaning. We have written to the state home department about the grievance expressed by the members of the deceased jawan. " - Bhojpur District Magistrate Sanjiv Kumar

“The amount of ex-gratia is decided by the department and only upon its approval can any change be effected", Kumar added.

Meanwhile, RJD national vice-president Shivanand Tiwary issued a statement in Patna demanding an apology from the Nitish Kumar government for the "insensitivity shown towards the sacrifice of the CRPF jawan, at whose funeral no minister or senior official was present.”