PM Modi announces Rs 10 lakh compensation for families of Indians killed in Iraq

Prime Minister Narendra Modi today announced an ex-gratia payment of Rs 10 lakh each to families of the 39 Indians killed in Iraq's Mosul.

The announcement comes amid a clamour by Opposition parties including the Congress for compensation to the kin of those killed in Iraq.

Punjab cabinet minister Navjot Singh Sidhu had earlier announced a Rs five lakh ex-gratia compensation for the family members of those who lost their lives.

Asked whether the families of the 39 Indians who died in Iraq would be provided jobs or compensation, Minister of State for External Affairs VK Singh said yesterday that the issue was not like distributing biscuits.

He had said,"The issue is not about distributing biscuits, it is about the life of people, did you understand".

VK Singh had brought back the bodies of 38 Indians who were killed yesterday.

The Indians had gone missing when the Islamic State overran Mosul in 2014. The Indian government launched a massive search operation along with the Iraqi government.

Foreign Affairs minister Sushma Swaraj had announced in Parliament last month that the Indian government had found the mortal remains of the Indians.