Oar Creek shooting: Punjab Govt's assurance to the victims' families

by Punjabnewswire4u (Balbir)

CHANDIGARH, AUG 7

The Punjab Government would facilitate the return of the bodies of victims of the Oak Creek tragedy from US to India for cremation at their native places. The Government would bear full expenses on transportation from the US to their native villages of the victims in India. An assurance to this effect was given by the Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal to the families of the victims last evening.  Mr. Badal last evening called on the families of Sita Singh and Ranjit Singh, the two brothers who lost their lives in the tragic shoot out in the Oak Creek Gurdwara. Mr. Badal conveyed his personal and his government's sympathies and solidarity with the bereaved families.

 The Chief Minister's also called up the Indian Ambassador in the US Ms. Nirupama Rao late last night. Mr. Badal asked Ms Rao to extend full cooperation to the hapless families in the US both in providing local relief as well as in expediting the return of the bodies to India. On his part, the Chief Minister said that the state government would extend all help and bear all expenses on bringing the bodies of the victims the back to their native places in India with full honors.  Disclosing this,  a spokesperson of the Chief Minister’s Office  said  here this afternoon that  Mr. Badal has sought  cooperation of  the Indian  Embassy in the US to facilitate the transit of  the bodies of the victims of the tragedy to their native  places in Punjab . 

Earlier, the US Envoy in India Nancy Powell spoke to the chief minister on telephone and conveyed her country and her government's profoundest sympathies and condolences to the tragedy stricken families.  Mr. Badal reqquested Ms Powell for all necessary  logistic and diplomatic support of the US administration in   providing relief and succor to the families of the victims
   Ms.  Powel assured the Chief Minister of her government's total cooperation in the matter. "We stand by the government and the people of Punjab in their hour of grief and would extend all possible help to the affected families in bringing bodies of the victims back for cremation with full honors . She also promised help in every other aspect where her government's assistance was needed, “Ms Powel assured Mr. Badal.

The Chief Minister emphasized the need for prompt follow-up action to ensure safety and security of members of the Sikh community residing in various parts of the US.