Daijiworld Media Network - Mysuru

Mysuru, Jan 12: The accused in the December 14 Kichguth Maramma temple tragedy have been booked under the Prevention of Atrocities Act, 1989 in addition to other sections of the criminal law.

This is because, 10 of the 17 people who died and 67 of the 105 who were taken ill after consuming the poisoned prasada at Sulwadi temple belonged to scheduled caste, while three belonged to scheduled tribe, according to Chamrajanagar SP Dharmender Kumar Meena.

While the state government has already approved the grant of Rs 2 lakh to each of these families under the Ambedkar Development Corporation and Rs 1 lakh each from the Backward Classes Welfare Department, Chamarajnagar deputy commissioner B B Cauvery has now sent a proposal to the state government to pay an ex gratia of Rs 8 lakh each to the families of the 10 scheduled caste devotees who died in the incident.

While the state government has paid compensation of Rs 5 lakh each to families of all the 17 dead, Chamarajnagar MP, R Druvanarayan highlighted the tragedy in Parliament and the Union government agreed to provide a compensation of Rs 2 lakh to each of the families.

There are suggestions that Rs 50,000 will be paid as compensation to those who fell ill after eating the prasada.