A human rights outfit has written to the secretary of Jharkhand home department over denial of state and Centre compensation to two victims of Maoist violence in different parts of the state last month.

Jharkhand unit secretary of the People’s Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL) Arvind Avinash on Monday addressed the letter to the secretary home, jail and disaster management Rajeev Arun Ekka.

The letter termed the denial of compensation as “complete apathy shown by the state government”.

“We would like to bring into your notice complete apathy shown by the state government in providing adequate medical care along with compensation to the recent victims of landmine and pressure bomb blasts,” the letter states.

The letter informs about the April 12 incident where a 27-year-old Lalita Devi of Kudpani village in Latehar district was severely injured because of pressure bomb blast while she was picking Mahua in the forest.

The letter further informs about the April 22 incident in which Sakunti Devi, 32, lost her life after she accidentally stepped on a landmine while picking Mahua at Lambi forest in Lohardaga district.

“The first incident was brought to the notice of our chief minister Hemant Soren and despite directing the authorities to take immediate action, unfortunately till date she has not received any compensation. It goes without any doubt that these people are a victim of violence and perfectly fall within the Jharkhand Naxal Victim Compensation Scheme and the Central Victim Compensation Fund Scheme (CVCF),” the letter says.

Incidentally, according to the Jharkhand Maoist victim compensation scheme, a deceased victim’s family would get a compensation of Rs 1 lakh while permanently disabled victim would get Rs 50,000.

Under the central scheme Rs 3 lakh would be given for death or permanent incapacitation to the affected family of Maoist violence.

While Sakunti died while being taken to hospital on April 22, Lalita has become permanently disabled after amputation of one of her leg and is undergoing treatment at RIMS, Ranchi.

“Since the victims belong to a poor socio-economic background they are unaware of the compensation law and unable to approach the right authority to claim the compensation. Since the matter has already been brought to the notice of the authorities it becomes incumbent upon them to suo-moto provide adequate compensation as per the law. Any further delay will only add to the plight of the victims who have already suffered enough,” the letter reminds.

The PUCL letter also requests for government jobs to the family members of the victim, if they are eligible for employment.