The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has recommended a compensation of Rs 5 lakh to the family of a boy, who was killed in a mysterious blast at a police officer’s residence in Sonebhadra about five years back.
The Commission has recommended that the UP government should pay Rs 5 lakh as relief to the next of the kin of deceased Mukesh and directed it to submit proof of payment and status of the enquiry in the matter in six weeks.
As per a NHRC release, Dalit boy Mukesh aka Chotu Panika (15) was sent by his parents with a cop to help him with his domestic chores and also pursue studies. However his life was cut short by a mysterious blast while he was cleaning the residence of the Station Officer at Obra police station in Sonebhadra on the evening of August 7, 2011.
The deceased' parents did not raise suspicion and also claimed that Mukesh was 17 years of age at the time of the blast and that the SO used to help him in his studies.
NHRC officials claimed that it was not only about knowing the reason behind the blast but also the boy's age, who was employed as a domestic aid by a government servant against provisions of Child labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act.
After serving a series of notices to concerned officers of UP and their response thereof, the age of the boy was confirmed being 15 years and one month at the time of the blast as per a school certificate. However the reason of the blast remained a mystery.
The Commission found it very strange that the police authorities could not gather any forensic evidence to find out the cause in a government house in which a boy was killed.
It also could not accept the reports that nobody responsible for the blast could be identified and charged sheeted. The stand of District Magistrate, Sonebhadra that it was not possible to grant monetary relief to the family members of the deceased aslo came under fire from the NHRC.
On December 5, 2014, the Commission asked the DGP to conduct an enquiry through a responsible agency and find out the actual cause of explosion and the perpetartors. He was also directed to inquire how a 15 year old was engaged in work which took his life.
Besdies, the Chief Secretary was directed to consider granting monetary relief to the victim’s family as he died while working in a government accommodation. In its response, the UP government informed the NHRC that the probe was handed over to the CB CID and that the government has no objection to granting relief.
Now, the NHRC has asked the state government to provide immediate relief of Rs 5 lakh to the family and also to appraise the NRHC about the outcome of the CB CID enquiry.