Friday, April 7 2006 16:21 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Aligarh (UP): The Centre today (Apr 7, 2006) announced an ex-gratia of Rs 2.5 lakhs each to the next of kin of those killed and a sum of Rs 50,000 each to those with serious injuries in the communal violence here.

Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Sriprakash Jaiswal, who made the announcement of ex-gratia here, also appealed to all sections of society to help the district authorities in restoring normalcy.

Earlier, Jaiswal refrained from visiting the riot-affected areas on the advice of the district authorities.

Jaiswal told reporters that he accepted the advice of district officials because he did not want the local authorities to 'blame him' of any untoward incident taking place during the day.

He urged the state government to "Transfer all senior officials posted here to ensure that any inquiry is conducted in a free and fair atmosphere".

Jaiswal also asked the state government to institute a judicial inquiry by a retired judge of the High Court into the communal flare-up.

Replying to a query, Jaiswal said he had 'deliberately" chosen not to comment upon the handling of the situation here but he would do so later at a suitable time.

The state government had yesterday announced a separate relief package of rupees five lakh each to the next of kin of those killed in yesterday's violence.