By IANS,
Nagpur : Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister R.R. Patil Monday announced generous compensation to the bereaved families of police personnel killed in gun-fight with the Maoists Sunday.
The family of police sub-inspector Suhas Parekar will get Rs.3.2 million and those of three police constables Ajay Maste, Vinod Uike and Vasant Madavi will get Rs.3.0 million each, besides the constables’ monthly salary till their time of superannuation, Patil told reporters here.
Patil, who holds home portfolio in the state, earlier attended the state funeral accorded to the policemen in Gadchiroli. He was accompanied by state Director General of Police A.N. Roy and Additional Director General (anti-naxal operations) Pankaj Gupta.
The gun-battle took place when Maoists ambushed a police patrol in a heavily forested area in Korepalli village of Gadchiroli district Sunday morning.
Five police personnel, who were injured in the Maoist firing, were brought to Nagpur by a helicopter and are being treated at city hospitals at state cost. They will get compensation and other assistance as per service-rules, Patil said.
Expressing grief over the death of police personnel, Patil said the Maoist action only showed their desperation.
“Maharashtra is among the least Maoist-infested states and the police here are quite capable of handling the menace notwithstanding such rare, unfortunate events,” he said.
The home minister described the surrender of 126 Maoists in Gadchiroli earlier this year as indicative of the outlaws’ weakened state and pointed out that the number of Maoist casualties in the state this year was also more than that on the police side.