West Bengal Government Faces Criticism Over Compensation for 1993 Police Firing Victims

The state administration in West Bengal is under fire for its handling of compensation related to the 1993 police firing that claimed the lives of thirteen Youth Congress activists. Chief Minister Somen Mitra presented a report from a commission headed by a retired justice, which had originally suggested ₹2.5 million for each bereaved family and ₹12 lakh for injured protesters.

Mitra claimed the previous Mamata Banerjee government failed to implement these recommendations, disbursing only ₹2 lakh to the families of the dead and a meager ₹15,000 to those injured.

At a separate rally, former Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee warned that she will resort to the Supreme Court to safeguard her party’s right to its name and electoral symbol.

In response, Banerjee’s breakaway faction announced a counter‑measure: if the Election Commission allows it to register a party name and symbol, it will fund a monthly assistance of ₹10,000 to each of the families of the 1993 martyrs, drawing the amount from its own party resources.

Both sides are now urging the families of the victims to file fresh FIRs, promising state support for any legal action they choose to pursue.