should not be granted to the next of the kin of the deceased u/s 18 (c) of the PHRA. It also directed
the Director General of Police, Madhya Pradesh to submit the status of the administrative
proceedings initiated against the negligent police officers. Upon consideration of the reply to the
show-cause notice, the Commission directed the District Magistrate, Ujjain to furnish a copy of the
MER and the Director General of Police, Madhya Pradesh to inform the Commission about the
outcome of disciplinary proceedings taken against the delinquent police officers. Their response is
awaited.
27.
Indiscriminate Firing by Constable of Railway Protection Force Kills 3 and Injures 11 in Madhya
Pradesh (Case No. 2252/12/2001-2002)
6.264 The case pertains to the death of H.C. Mahveer Prasad Singh and Satya Narayan who lost
their lives as a result of indiscriminate firing by a Constable of Railway Protection Force (RPF). On
26 July 2006, the Deputy Director (Security), Railway Board appeared on behalf of the Railway
Board and undertook to pay Rs. 5 lakhs each to the next of kin of the two deceased. The proof of
payment in respect of payment to Smt. Pushpa Verma, widow of Satya Narayan has been received.
As regards the other victim, namely, Mahveer Prasad, the legal heir is yet to be identified and the
matter is sub judice as two women are claiming to be his wife. The case has been closed by the
Commission.
28.
Mass Cremation by Punjab Police (Case No. 1/97/NHRC)
6.265 Details of this case have been reported in the earlier Annual Reports of NHRC. The
Commission's enquiries clarified the numbers: there were 38 duplicate names in the list; 1,245
bodies had been identified. In its proceedings of 10 October 2006, the Commission held that for the
violation of human rights of 194 persons who were admittedly in police custody immediately
prior to their death and their cremation, their next of kin were entitled to monetary compensation
of Rs. 2,50,000. As regards 1,051 persons who were not in police custody but cremated by the State
of Punjab without following the Punjab Police Rules, guidelines, practice and humanitarian law,
the Commission awarded monetary relief of Rs. 1,75,000 to the next of kin of each of the deceased.
For the identification of the remaining 814 bodies, the Commission appointed a Commissioner
(Justice Shri K.S. Bhalla, retired judge of Punjab and Haryana High Court) for receiving evidence
and conducting an inquiry to fix the identity of as many dead bodies as possible.
6.266 Vide proceedings dated 15 February 2007, the Commission considered an application
submitted by the State of Punjab regarding 54 more identified bodies. The Commission was
satisfied about the identity of 53 persons. In respect of one person in deemed custody, the
Commission awarded monetary relief of Rs. 2,50,000 to the next of kin of the deceased and
regarding other 52 bodies identified, it awarded a relief of Rs. 1,75,000 to the next of kin of each of
the deceased.
6.267 Justice Shri K.S. Bhalla's one man Commission of Inquiry report dated 30 June 2007
84 National Human Rights Commission