BJP seeks Rs 1.25 crore compensation for Chamel Singh’s kin

CHANDIGARH, May 18:
BJP today demanded compensation for the family of Chamel Singh, the Indian prisoner who died in a Lahore jail, and urged the Centre to ensure safety of Indian inmates lodged in Pakistani jails.
“Compensation of Rs 1 crore should be given by Jammu and Kashmir Government while Rs 25 lakh should be given by the Centre,” BJP leader and Rajya Sabha MP Avinash Rai Khanna, who is also in-charge of the J-K affairs of the party, said at a press conference here.
Chamel Singh died in Lahore’s Kot Lakhpat jail on January 15 this year after allegedly being attacked by fellow inmates.
Indian national Sarabjit Singh, too was lodged in the same jail and had also been attacked there by fellow inmates leading to his death at a hospital in Lahore.
Khanna said, he had written to President Pranab Mukherjee, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Union Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde on the matter.
“I have requested that like Sarabjit Singh’s family, Chamel Singh’s kin should also be given compensation.
“The J-K Government should also give a compensation of Rs 1 crore, like the Punjab Government in Sarabjit Singh’s case,” he said.
Punjab BJP today performed a ‘havan’ at its office in memory of Chamel Singh and handed over Rs 3 lakh to Singh’s kin. (PTI)