Bodies of 38 Indians killed in Iraq reach Amritsar: VK Singh says compensation to kin of victims 'not like distributing biscuits'

Union Minister of State for External Affairs VK Singh accompanied the mortal remains of 38 Indians  killed in Mosul as they arrived on Monday afternoon at the Amritsar International Airport. [caption id=“attachment_4415331” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] File image of VK Singh. News18[/caption] Singh thanked the authorities in Iraq for their help in locating the victims and exhuming the mortal remains. Although 39 Indians were killed as the Islamic State took over Mosul in June 2014, the mortal remains of 38 were brought back as the identification of one body is still pending. When asked if the kin of the 38 Indian men would be given jobs, he said, as quoted by ANI , “This is not a game of football. Both the state and central governments are sensitive governments. The External Affairs Ministry had asked the families for the details of their members who can be given jobs etc. We will review (the same).” Upon being asked if he will make any announcement about compensation to the kin of the deceased, he said, “This work is not like distributing biscuits. It involves a question of people’s lives. How can I make an announcement right now? I don’t have some magic box in my pocket that I can make such an announcement.” While the coffins of 31 victims – 27 from Punjab and four from Himachal Pradesh – were handed over to the respective authorities at the Amritsar airport, seven coffins were shifted to another aircraft to be flown to West Bengal (3) and Bihar (4). Punjab’s cultural affairs minister Navjot Singh Sidhu was also present at the airport to receive the coffins, along with officials of the other states to which the victims belonged. At the press conference, he announced an ex-gratia compensation to the family of 27 Indians who were from Punjab. Sidhu said that a compensation of Rs 5 lakh to each family will be given. Besides, a job for one person per family will also be provided, while the current pension of Rs 20,000 will continue, he added. With inputs from agencies