26/11: 3 years on; Spent on Qasab - Rs 100 cr; aid to victims-Rs 14 cr

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Mumbai, November 25, 2011: With reports doing rounds about the state government spending anywhere between Rs 16 crore to Rs 100 crore of taxpayers’ money on the lone surviving terrorist Ajmal Qasab, it has become apparent that Qasab’s security and a fair trial has proved to be an expensive proposition for the state.


In comparison, the government has spent just Rs 13.73 crore in compensation for the relatives of the 175 victims who were gunned down by the terrorist and his nine accomplices.

 

 

Inside information
If sources from the Democratic Front government are to be believed, then the cost of protecting the terrorist has taken its toll on the state’s coffers.

The Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) that has been pressed into action to secure Qasab for the past three years recently presented the state with a bill worth Rs 90 crore for its service.

Adding to the expenditure are Qasab’s special cell, special ward, medical expenses, food, lawyers’ fees and other expenses, totalling a whopping Rs 10 crore.

Compensation
Out of the 175 deaths, 135 were civilians and their families have been given a total of Rs 6.75 crore (Rs 5 lakh each). While the families of 22 martyrs from the various security forces, including the city police, have been paid Rs 5.5 crore (Rs 25 lakh each).

In addition, Rs 15.30 lakh  (Rs 15,000 each) was paid to the kin of the deceased (102) for performing last rites. Similarly, Rs 13.75 lakh (Rs 25,000 each) was given to the heirs of the 55 victims who wished to perform the final rites at their respective hometowns.

The report also states that Rs 1.19 crore was distributed among the 249 people who were injured in the attack. While a sum of Rs 50,000 each was given to those who were grievously hurt, Rs 5,000 was distributed among those who sustained minor injuries.

Courtesy: Mid-Day