सव भव तु सिखनः ु ons of ta ooing, charring, or blackening around the entry wounds. The cause of death was a ributed to mul ple gunshot wounds, hypovolemic shock caused by external bleeding, and neurogenic shock due to brain injuries. The ballis c report validated that the confiscated Insas rifle and one of the loaded guns were opera onal and had been discharged before submission for examinaon. However, two of the loaded guns were nonopera onal, having been fired before their laboratory submission. Firing residue was detected on the hand swab samples of one of the deceased individuals. An enquiry, led by the Sub Divisional Magistrate of Konta, encompassed statements from family members of the deceased, independent witnesses, and police personnel involved in the encounter. A er thorough evalua on of these statements and other evidence, the Enquiry Magistrate did not discern any evidence of misconduct in the encounter. Within the context of the magisterial inquiry report, a resident of Ko aguda, aged 48 and his son provided tes mony before the Magistrate. He revealed that he sustained a bullet injury in his back during the crossfire between the police and the Naxalites while gathering firewood in the forest. Subsequently, the police party transported him to Sukma for medical treatment. In the Commission's assess-ment, he was not involved in any criminal ac vi es and was inadvertently caught in the crossfire between the police and the Naxalites. Given these circumstances, it was deemed fi ng that he be granted monetary compensa on from the State Government. Notably, the police report omi ed men on of whether any compensa on had been extended to him. Consequently, under Sec on 18 of the PHRA a no ce was dispatched to the Government of Chha sgarh through its Chief Secretary, requiring their response within eight weeks regarding the recommenda on for an amount of Rs. 1,00,000/- (Rupees One Lakh only) to be disbursed to him. Regre ably, no response was forthcoming from the Government. The Commission inferred that the State Government had no o b j e c o n s to g ra n n g m o n eta r y compensa on to him, who sustained injury during the crossfire between the police and the Naxalites. Accordingly, the show cause no ce was affirmed, and the Commission advised the Government of Chha sgarh, through its Chief Secretary, to disburse the compensa on Chapter 7 - Thematic Areas amount to him. Addi onally, the Government was directed to furnish a compliance report accompanied by evidence of payment. Consequently, in view of these direc ves, the Commission closed the case on 14 December 2022. 15.) Four civilians grievously injured during Police Firing in Durg, Chha sgarh (Case No: 172/33/5/2018) Commission received in ma on on 17 March 2018, alleging that four individuals had been injured due to firing by a police officer from his licensed revolver in Durg, Chha sgarh. In response to the Commission's direc ons, the required reports on the ma er were received from the authori es concerned. A communica on dated 09 January 2019 from the Superintendent of Police, Dis . Balod, Chha sgarh, forwarding the report of SHO, PS Daundilohara, Balod, revealed that on the date of the incident, i.e., 12 March 2018, at night, the CAF, with the mo ve to kill, had injured four individuals. Subsequently, he died by suicide. A case was registered U/ s 460/ 307 IPC read with 25(27) Arms Act. However, as the accused had died, the case was closed. An applica on had been made under the Sambhalpur Compensa on Scheme 2011 to pay the compensa on amount to the injured, and the same was sub-judice before the Court. The Commission considered the report and found the public servant guilty of commi ng the crime U/ s 307 IPC. He had commi ed this crime using his service revolver. The vic ms had suffered immensely. Although the report did not provide details of the vic ms' injuries, an inference could be drawn that the injuries had been deliberately concealed. In any case, the vic ms had endured mental and physical pain and agony, and they must have incurred s ignificant medical expenses. This was not only a case of derelic on of duty but also a case of a criminal act by a public servant. As such, the State was vicariously liable. A show cause no ce was issued to the Chief Secretary, Government of Chha sgarh, asking why compensa on of Rs. 3,00,000/- (Rupees Three Lakh only) each should not be paid to the injured individuals, u/s 18 of the PHRA. Pursuant to the Commission's direc ons, the Under Secretary, Government of Chha sgarh, Home (Police) Department, communicated on 26 June 2019 that in 33