Terror attack: State okays 50L, kin want gunmen eliminated

Mumbai: The state cabinet on Tuesday approved a compensation of Rs 50 lakh each to the families of victims who were killed in the Pahalgam terror attack. Immediately after the incident, CM Devendra Fadnavis announced a compensation of Rs 5 lakh to the families of those killed in the massacre. Six tourists who were on a holiday with their families were killed. These include Santosh Jagdale, Kaustubh Gunbote (both from Pune), three maternal cousins Hemant Joshi, Sanjay Lele, Atul Mone (all from Dombivli), and Dilip Disle from Panvel.Fadnavis on Saturday visited the families of Gunbote and Jagdale in Pune. Gunbote's son Kunal said, "Our family is thankful to govt for the gesture. However, we urge it to uproot terrorism from the country. Eliminating four terrorists will not be enough; govt should find the mastermind of the attack and serve him a lethal punishment," he said. The Jagdale family urged the govt to provide compensation and a job to Asawari Jagdale as her slain father was the sole breadwinner in the family. Asawari said, "My father always wanted me to be in a high position in my career, and I am thankful to govt for announcing a job for me." CM Fadnavis announced the state govt would extend full support towards the education and employment needs of the deceased victims' children and families. He also declared that in families where there is a lack of livelihood, direct govt jobs will be provided to eligible heirs using his special executive powers. On Monday, he already announced his decision to provide a job to Asawari. On Tuesday, under his executive powers as CM, Fadnavis announced in the cabinet a govt job for the Jagdale family. In the aftermath of the terror attack, the state govt also arranged special flights and brought back 800 tourists from Jammu and Kashmir.Dy CM Eknath Shinde, in his individual capacity, arranged to bring back 520 tourists and announced a compensation of Rs 5 lakh to the family of Syed Adil Hussain Shah, a pony ride operator killed by the terrorists for protesting and shielding a tourist.Pragati, wife of Santosh Jagdale, appealed to politicians not to politicise the terror incident. Her statement comes against the backdrop of Congress member Vijay Wadettiwar's statement raising doubts about whether terrorists asked the religion of victims before killing them. "We were there when the attack occurred. My husband and others were shot in front of my eyes. We know what the terrorists asked," she said.