Chandigarh, August 29: The state government wants Dera Sacha Sauda to pay for the expenditure incurred on the deployment of central as well as state security forces during the period of dera-related disturbance in the state. A senior government functionary said the total expenditure would be between Rs 150 crore and Rs 200 crore.
The claim will be in addition to the property loss, both of public and private, to be filed before the Punjab and Haryana High Court. The Union Government will bill the state for the deployment of central forces, which the state will submit in the high court for necessary action.
After briefing Punjab Governor VP Singh Badnore on sporadic incidents of arson and looting and preventive arrests in the state, Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh said the quantum of loss would be available once a list of properties damaged in the violence was compiled by the authorities concerned.
Of 32 people killed in police firing in Panchkula on August 25, 12 were from Punjab. The cremation of identified persons went off peacefully.
“The government has already stated that there is no question giving compensation to the kin of the deceased as they were part of the mob. We can still consider cases on merit,” said an official spokesman.
The CM said the government would review the situation on Tuesday before taking any decision on lifting curfew imposed in some areas.
Of the 10 districts, the curfew has been lifted in five. Night curfew will continue for the time being in Mansa, Bathinda, Faridkot, Barnala and Samna, and Patran.
While mobile data services in Punjab would be lifted tomorrow, the decision to open schools and colleges in sensitive districts had been left to the respective DCs, said the CM, who earlier held a high-level meeting with administrative and police officials.
News Source: http://www.tribuneindia.com
