Delhi govt hands over Rs 5L cheque to Meenakshi’s parents

Delhi government on Thursday handed over a cheque of Rs 5 lakh to the parents of Meenakshi, who was brutally stabbed to death by two men in Central Delhi’s Anand <g data-gr-id="24">Prabat</g> area last month. Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal had announced Rs 5 lakh as compensation to Meenakshi’s family after visiting her house.

The cheque was handed over to Meenakshi’s parents by Women and Child Development Minister Sandeep Kumar who said that this will include the amount for the treatment of the victim’s mother.

The murder of 19-year-old Meenakshi allegedly by two brothers living in her neighbourhood for protesting their verbal abuse on July 16 had sparked a political battle with AAP pressing for handing over the control of Delhi Police to its government claiming that crime related incidents are on the rise and women do not feel safe in the national Capital.

According to a senior official, the compensation amount was given the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund.

The AAP government has also announced an additional compensation of Rs 5.25 lakh for Meenakshi’s family which will be provided under the Delhi Victim Compensation Scheme, 2011.

Kumar said Delhi government was committed to <g data-gr-id="22">ensure</g> <g data-gr-id="23">safety</g> of women and the introduction of marshals on DTC buses was the first concrete step in this direction. The minister said that Delhi government will implement the recommendations of the Justice J S Verma Committee on women safety, which are within the ambit of the state.