J&K govt announces Rs24 lakh aid for encounter victims

The state government today announced Rs 24 lakh as compensation for 24 families whose houses were damaged in an encounter at Chinkipora-Sopore in Korth Kashmir last month that left four soldiers and two militants dead. 

Minister of state for revenue Nasir Aslam Wani said Rs1 lakh each has been sanctioned to help the victims to rebuild their homes.

The forest department has also been instructed to provide timber to the affected families at the earliest, he said adding sanction was also accorded to provide free ration for another month.

The deputy commissioner Baramulla Bashir Ahmad Bhat said as many as 14 residents, which housed which 24 families, were completely gutted in the encounter on February 23.

He said the district administration has provided one month free ration, kitchen sets, 14 tents and 72 blankets for temporary rehabilitation of the victims.

The minister said assessment of the partially damaged houses and structures would be conducted shortly.