UP offers Rs 20 lakh to martyr

LUCKNOW, Nov 2:
Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav today announced Rs 20 lakh ex-gratia for the family of an Army jawan from Mathura who was recently killed in an exchange of firing  with terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir.
The State Government’s decision came a day after the jawan’s family members went on an indefinite fast in Mathura charging that the Central and State Governments had “treated the matter of his martyrdom casually”.
Samod Kumar (31), posted with 14 Rashtriya Rifles, was on October 28 killed in an encounter with militants in Budh forest area of Jammu and Kashmir’s Bandipora district.
The Chief Minister in a statement condoled his death and said “Kumar showed exemplary courage”.
Resident of Bhawanpura village in Mathura district, Kumar is survived by his wife and two sons, aged 8 years and 6 years. (PTI)