Punjab CM: Govt jobs, financial aid to kin of Indians killed in Iraq

Chandigarh, May 8: The Punjab cabinet on Tuesday approved financial assistance and government jobs on compassionate grounds to the next of kin of those from the state killed by the Islamic State in Mosul in Iraq.

A cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Amarinder Singh here took the decision.The mortal remains of 27 deceased Indians hailing from Punjab were flown to Amritsar on April 3 after their bodies were exhumed in Iraq and DNA tests were conducted.

The victims hailed from Amritsar, Hoshiarpur, Jalandhar, Ludhiana, Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar, Sangrur, Kapurthala, and Gurdaspur districts.

"The government had decided to provide employment to one dependent family member of each victim, as per their educational qualification and government policy, besides ex gratia of Rs 5 lakh," a government spokesman said.