Mumbai:The Maharashtra government Wednesday announced an inquiry by the chief secretary into the lynching of a youth from Uttar Pradesh in a suburban train outside Mumbai and Rs.200,000 as compensation to his family.

Following a telephonic conversation with union Home Minister Shivraj Patil, Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh said Chief Secretary Johny Joseph would probe the lynching of 25-year-old Dharamdev Ramnarain Rai on board the speeding Khopoli-Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus suburban train Tuesday night. There were four security guards on the train at the time. Deputy Chief Minister R. R. Patil, who holds the home portfolio, also announced a compensation of Rs.200,000 to the victim s family members and assured that perpetrators of the heinous crime would not be spared.

A group of at least 10 commuters assaulted Dharamdev and three of his friends over window seats. Dharamdev succumbed to his injuries barely half an hour later at a hospital in Badlapur, around 80 km from here. This is the second inquiry into the killing of a person from north India that has been given to the chief secretary. Two days ago, Deshmukh had announced a separate inquiry into the gunning of a Bihari youth, Rahul Raj, who attempted to hijack a BEST public bus with 25 communters on board. On Oct 19,youth from Bihar who had come to Mumbai to appear for railway recruitment examination were attacked by Maharashtra Navnirman Sena activists. It led to the arrest of MNS president Raj Thackeray and retaliation by his partymen across the state.

Source : IANS