Imphal, July 11 2009: A sum of around Rs 5 lakh have been allegedly swindled from the compensation amount given to the victims of Ragailong bomb blast by some members of the JAC formed in connection with the incident.

In all 18 persons were killed while 38 others sustained injuries in the blast which took place near the gate of Ragailong on October 25 last year at around 7.30 pm.

Addressing a press conference in this connection at Manipur Press Club here today, convenor of Association of Bomb Blast Survivors Ringwan Shimray disclosed that when the Central Government provided Rs 1 lakh each as compensation to family members of 10 victims out of 18 killed and Rs 50,000 to 30 injured persons out of the 38 wounded, some JAC members collected Rs 10,000 from each of the 10 families of the deceased and Rs 5000 from each of the 30 injured persons.

Moreover, the same JAC members have also taken Rs 1000 from each of the 16 other injured persons who have been compensated from the side of the State Government, Ringwan Shimray, who himself survived with injuries in the said blast added.

He further disclosed that the JAC members had also collected Rs 1200 from the families of each of the deceased and injured for opening bank accounts for withdrawal of the compensation amount which was given in the form of cheques when the turth is that they have spent only Rs 1000 for the purpose.

On the day blast, Chief Minister who had come to the hospital to meet the victims had also donated Rs 75,000.But the JAC members in question had provided only Rs 5,000 each to some of the injured victims.

It is said that out of 18 persons who were killed, the family members of 8 victims have not yet received any compensation from the side of the Central Government while 22 injured victims out of 38 have not received any compensation from the side of the State Government.

The compensation amount of Rs 1 lakh each which was assured from the side of the State Government had been provided to family members of all the deceased victims.

Ringwan also appealed to the Government for extending the assured compensation amount to all those victims who have not yet received the same so far.

Vice president and executive member of the JAC and family members of the blast victims were also present during the press conference.