National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has recommended Rs 5 lakh relief to the family of a Dalit boy killed in a mysterious blast at a police officer's official residence in Uttar Pradesh.
Master Mukesh, alias Chotu Panika, was 15 years old when he was sent by his parents with a police officer to help him in his domestic chores and also pursue studies with his support.
The incident had occurred on August 7, 2011 when Mukesh was cleaning the residence of a station officer in the campus of Police Station Obra in Sonebhadra district of Uttar Pradesh, an NHRC statement said.
The parents of the boy did not raise any suspicion over the incident but the issue was not only about knowing the exact reason behind the blast but also the age of the boy who was employed as a domestic aid by a government servant possibly against the provisions of Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act, the Commission said.
During the course of a series of notices to the concerned officers of UP government and responses received, the age of the boy was eventually confirmed as being 15 years and one month at the time of the incident as per a school certificate but the reason of the blast still remained a mystery.
"The Commission found it very strange that the police authorities could not gather any forensic evidence to find out the cause of explosion in a government house in which a boy was killed," NHRC said.
The Commission said it could not accept reports that nobody responsible for the blast could be identified and charged sheeted.
"It also could not accept the stand of the District Magistrate, Sonebhadra, that it was not possible to grant any monetary relief to the family members of the deceased," the Commission said while asking the DGP, UP to conduct an inquiry in the matter through a responsible agency and ascertain the actual cause of explosion and the persons behind it.
He was also directed to inquire how the young boy was engaged in performing such a work which took his life and take appropriate action against the guilty. He was told that all those concerned must be examined.
Further, the Chief Secretary of the state government was directed to consider granting monetary relief to the victim's family as he lost his life in an explosion while working in a government accommodation.
In response, the Chief Secretary said the inquiry of the incident has been handed over to CB, CID and that the state government has no objection to grant relief.
Therefore, the Commission recommended that Rs 5 lakh be paid as relief to the next of kin of the deceased. The state government has been asked to submit proof of payment and a status report of the inquiry returnable within six weeks.
