Meghalaya Human Rights Commission (MHRC) Directs State Government to Pay Compensation

LABOURERS' ELECTROCUTION IN NORTH GARO HILLS

A CORRESPONDENT

SHILLONG: The Meghalaya Human Rights Commission (MHRC) has directed the State government to pay compensation to the families of five labourers who died due to electrocution in North Garo Hills earlier this year.

In its judgement, the MHRC directed the government to pay compensation of Rs 2 lakhs to the next of kin of each of the five deceased.

The five has have been identified as Jonaludin (35 years), Sanmia (36 years), Asraf A1i (35 years), Sanwar Rehman (27 years) — all hailing from Merarchor village in Bongaigaon, Assam and Depan Rabha (33 years) of Chotomiapara village under Mendipathar in North Garo Hills.

At the same time the Commission also directed the government to pay compensation of Rs 50,000 each for five other seriously injured labourers, namely, Biren A1i (30 years), Sayed Ali (25 years), Omar A1i (40 years), Kowedh Ali (30 years years) and Abibil Ahmed (19 years).

"It is really shocking that due to the alleged poor services of the concerned department, the poor innocent labourers had lost their precious life and became the victim for no fault of theirs," the MHRC which took a Suo-Motu action in the case said in its order. "The entire payment of the compensation amount be made within the period of 60 days from the date of receipt of the order," the MHRC added.

The Commission also stated that the Government of Meghalaya is at liberty to approach the State Commission for modification or revocation of the interim relief as ordered, if and so advised.

It may be mentioned that the five labourers engaged in road construction work were electrocuted and another five grievously injured when their road repair vehicle touched a high tension electrical wire that was lying low near Manikganj village of North Garo Hills in July this year.

The labourers, who were engaged in road levelling work' were pushing their machinery through the Chotomiapara village near Manikganj under Mendipathar police station when the accident took place.