Bihar: Stray police bullet kills son; blind parents starve

Blame game between Bihar police and Railway Protection Force over compensation for slain Mohd Mustafa, who fell victim of a stray police bullet a year ago in Bihar's Katihar district, has left his blind parents to starve.

Mohd Ismail and Nuzhat Khatun, old parents of Mohd Mustafa, are helpless and fighting for survival after their son was killed last year.

"We have been left in lurch; there is no one to help us. Mustafa was our only hope and livelihood earner, but he was killed by a stray bullet of police. No compensation was paid to us, we virtually starve when neighbours sometimes forget to provide us food," Ismail, 55, said.

"His killing had snatched everything from us. We are living on God's mercy, but have received no help from local district authorities," Nuzhat Khatun, 55, said.

Mustafa, a daily wage earner in his early twenties from Hazipur locality under Katihar police station, was killed when a stray bullet hit him near Chandmari firing range on December 24, 2010.

"The district police in its investigation blamed RPF for his killing when Mustafa was returning home after a day's work" a district official said.

According to district police, the day Mustafa was killed after being hit by a stray bullet, the RPF had been training near the spot.

"Soon after Mustafa's killing the superintendent of police had ordered an inquiry following protest and demand of compensation by local residents. The report directly blamed the RPF for his death," police officials said.

However, the RPF has rejected the inquiry report and stated that railways was not liable to pay any damage or compensation.

RPF Commandant Mohammad Naim rejected the district police inquiry report. "The entire report is misleading and there is no question of compensation as RPF is not responsible for his death. In this case how can we recommend compensation to his parents?" Naim asked.

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