Chennai: Members of Tamil Nadu Police constabulary association are a dejected lot since the government announced '5 lakh solatium to the family of constable stabbed to death by a suspect in Krishnagiri.
“Government announced Rs 10 lakh for injured woman who returned from a Gulf country while Rs 5 lakh for policeman who was murdered while on duty. We don’t think it is morally acceptable,” said a policeman, part of the constabulary association, a registered body, which is yet to be recognised by the department.
Head constable Munusamy (45), attached to Hosur police station was stabbed to death by a member of chain snatching gang from Bengaluru when he tried to apprehend latter. The suspect identified as Bujji, was however caught and later died in police custody.
The government had announced Rs 5 lakh as solatium to the family of Munusamy. On the same day, the government had announced Rs 10 lakh solatium to Dhakshayani, who suffered hip injury while jumping from the balcony of the house she was working in Dammam, Saudi Arabia to escape torture by her employer.
Last November, TN government had given '10 lakh solatium for Kasthuri, a woman from Vellore who lost her hand while trying escape from an employer’s house in Saudi Arabia.
Police personnel had been crying foul over solatium given to the family of Munusamy saying that the amount was very low. Some recalled an incident in Delhi where chief minister there had sanctioned Rs 1 crore as solatium to a family of constable who was killed in duty, two and half years ago.
Recently, UP government gave Rs 50 lakh as compensation for families of policemen who died in a riot. A state government official however clarified that injured women returned from Gulf will be getting only monthly interest of Rs10 lakh and they would not get access to entire amount.
