Imphal, February 02 2010: Close on the heels of NHRC directive to pay Rs 5 lakh to the family of Late RK Sanajaoba, the Gauhati High Court, Imphal Bench has directed the state government to pay a compensation amount of Rs 4.50 lakh to the family of a chowkidar of a stone crushing firm who was killed in an indiscriminate firing by the personnel of 15 JAT regiment nine year back in March 2001 at Pheidinga under Sekmai Police Station.

Nine years back on March 29, 2001 at about 8.30 am, Deepak Dahal alias Devi Prasad of Serou Part-II, Thoubal district working as chowkidar in a Stone Crushing firm at Pheidinga succumbed to his bullet injuries on the way to Military Hospital, Leimakhong.

He sustained bullet injury when personnel of 15 JAT Regiment posted at Leimakhong fired towards him after calling out from inside the kutcha house at the stone crushing centre in the aftermath of a loud sound of blast nearby the firm on the side of the NH-39 .

Half an hour later after the sound of the blast, about 9/10 personnel entered the said stone crushing firm.

Suddenly and surprisingly, the personnel of the 15 JAT without any reason and without saying anything started firing indiscriminately.

In the said unprovoked and meaningless firing of the personnel of 15 JAT, Deepak Dahal received serious bullet injuries.

He was evacuated to Military Hospital at Leimakhong where he was declared brought dead as a result of the bullet injury.

Wife of the deceased chowkidar Harimaya Dahal filed a writ petition to the Gauhati High Court, Imphal Bench through her counsel, advocate A Sachikumar with a prayer to the court to direct the respondents payment of compensation of Rs 20 lakh for the death of her husband.

The respondents of the case were the authorities concerned of the Union government and state government and GOC, 57 Mtn Divn.

In the case N Ibotombi, CGSC and RS Reisang, government advocate were the counsel of the respondents.

The hearing of the case was conducted on January 25 last before the Judge, Justice T Nandakumar.

The judge after hearing the arguments of both counsels of both respondents and petitioners pronounced the order directing the respondents to pay a compensation amount of Rs 4,50,000 within a period of four months from the date of issue of the order.

The court order also directed the petitioner, wife of the deceased Deepak Dahal to deposit half of the compensation amount, that is Rs 2,25,000, in the name of her minor son as fixed deposit in any nationalised bank till her minor son attains the majority.

The respondents were also directed to deposit the amount to the registry of the Imphal Bench of the court within the stipulated time, who in turn will retain half of the amount for depositing as fixed deposit in the name of the petitioner's son by the petitioner.