Cheques to Dalit rape victims to be given by DMs

Under attack by the Uttar Pradesh Congress Committee Chief Rita Bahuguna Joshi for using helicopters to hand over cheques to rape victims in the state, the state government has decided that instead of director general of police, the job would be now done by concerned district magistrates.

"Now, District Magistrates in presence of concerned SP and DIG will hand over cheques to Dalit rape victims," Secretary Home Mahesh Kumar Gupta said in Lucknow.

"The state government has amended its earlier order and directed the DMs to hand over the cheques," he added.

Since June 1, the DGP has visited 18 places in various districts of the state by a helicopter to award cheques to Dalit rape victims and to the families of Dalits, who were killed due to various reasons.

The Congress state president had criticised the state government on July 15 in Moradabad for distribution of compensation to rape victims by DGP, who she said was spending more in his visits by helicopters than in awarding compensation.

In the same meeting she also made derogatory remarks against Chief Minister Mayawati, which snowballed into a major controversy and resulted in her arrest also.