Bhelwaghati victims submit a memorandum to chief minister Shibu Soren in Ranchi on Friday. (Hardeep Singh)

Ranchi, Feb. 19: For five years, the victims of Bhelwaghati massacre in Giridih have been running from pillar to post for compensation and other benefits promised by the then Arjun Munda government. Today, they appealed to chief minister Shibu Soren for immediate relief.

More than 17 people, either members or sympathisers of the Bhelwaghati village protection committee, were killed by Maoists on September 11, 2005. Many others sustained grievous injuries in one of the bloodiest rebel attacks on civilians in the state’s history.

Soon after the incident, Munda had announced compensatory jobs and Rs 2.5 lakh ex gratia to the family members of the deceased. He also promised to develop Bhelwaghati into a model village, issue BPL red cards, make dwelling units under Indira Awas Yojana, provide free education for children of the deceased and medical aid to the injured. Another Rs 10 lakh was promised to deceased Mansoor Ansari’s family whose double-storey house was blown up during the attack.

However, the victims’ families were only given Rs 1 lakh each. After sustained struggle, four aggrieved families managed to secure jobs. Later, the Madhu Koda government gave compensatory jobs to another 12 in May 2007.

“A member of Ansari’s family is yet to get a job,” said senior Congress leader Pratibha Pandey, who led the delegation to the chief minister. “Deceased Ganesh Sao’s mother is suffering from blood cancer and Kalim Ansari’s father is a heart patient. They are fending for themselves. Parents of the deceased should at least be given old-age pension.”

Soren said he had directed his officials to take necessary actions. “We are aware of their problems and will do our best to provide relief.”