W. Bengal govt. providing ex-gratia help to Maoist hit families

Bankura, Jan 31 (ANI): The West Bengal Government has offered compensation to the amilies of those who were affected by Maoists in the state.

Relatives of the slained victims heaved a sigh of relief as the amount they received would help hem to sustain the family, which was till now, reeling under abject poverty and violence.

"We got compensation after a very long time. Now everything is peaceful and we don't want hat atmosphere which was there," said relative of a victim, Haripada Murmu.

An amount of Rupees 300000 each has been given to the members of the families, who lost heir near ones by Maoists.

"We provided compensation to those families who lost their family member in Maoist attack. oday, two families got Rupees three-lakh compensation-they are the families of Baneswar urmu and Ramdas Murmu. The Central Government has provided the compensation amount f Rupees three-lakh and Rupees one lakh will be provided by state government which is under rocess," said Sub Divisional Officer, Khatra, Bankura.

The Maoists started their armed struggle in West Bengal's Naxalbari town in 1967 and have xpanded their support among villagers by tapping into resentment at the government's pro-ndustry push.

They are active in the narrow forested, mineral-rich belt stretching over 22 of India's 28 states ith their influence remaining largely restricted to the countryside and small towns. (ANI)