Father accepts ex gratia; activists cite political pressure
Cops escort an Indo-Canadian bus, run by the firm owned by the Badals, in Jalandhar during a protest by AAP workers on Sunday. (Photo: PTI)
Chandigarh/Moga: The father of the girl, who was molested and pushed to death from a moving bus in Punjab’s Moga on Sunday, finally agreed to the holding of a post-mortem and to perform her last rites as well as accepting the offer of compensation and a government job. This development, which ended a four-day deadlock, came amid claims by citizens’ groups that the victim’s family was under intense political and police pressure to arrive at a compromise.
The victim’s father, Sukhdev Singh, told the media: “I want to take my daughter home and want to perform her last rites. I am sorry. Whatever the government has done for me is enough.” He added that he had agreed to the post-mortem “without any pressure”.
Moga SSP J.S. Khaira said: “The family had apprehensions on the investigation. There were rumours that an FIR has not been registered. We showed them the FIR, showed the family the entire investigation we have done so far in a fair and transparent manner... All the four accused were arrested within 24 hours and the bus was impounded. The family had some apprehensions that the people whom we arrested had not committed the crime, but a boy travelling in the bus that day identified them.”
The acceptance of compensation by the victim’s father and his readiness for the cremation came as a surprise on Sunday as he was earlier insistent that a case should be registered against deputy CM Sukhbir Badal and others who were owners of the bus service.
He had also sought cancellation of the road permits of Orbit Aviation before the last rites were done. The family had on Friday even rejected the government’s offer of Rs 20-lakh compensation, a government job for her mother, her free treatment and holding of the trial in a fast-track court. The victim’s father also sought an end to the protest over this matter. “No one, including the government or any officer, has ever threatened me (for compromise),” he said thanking those who supported him.
( Source : dc correspondent with agency inputs )
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