He said during his meeting with government officials today that the latter had assured him of the compensation, but added that it would take some time. Samphal is in Gujarat since the past two days to take stock of the situation in Antarsuba village.

Samphal was also handed over a copy of the P K Laheri committee report that probed into the firing. Among other things, he said, the report recommended investigation into the episode by the CID (Crime Branch).

However, NGOs are not willing to accept the findings of the CID probe as they feel there is not much difference between the district police and the CID. In a memorandum submitted to the commission, the Peoples Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL) demanded an immediate judicial inquiry, headed by a High Court judge, and suspension of the police official responsible in the incident, till the completion of the inquiry.

Demanding a compensation of Rs 10 lakh for the next of the kin of the deceased and Rs 5 lakh each to the injured, the PUCL also demanded withdrawal of all cases against the tribals, saying that they were only demanding their constitutional rights.

“Their assertion for rights against injustice is not a crime or conspiracy against the state,” the memorandum said. It also demanded the implementation of the Forest Rights Act of 2006 in earnest, adding that ‘Sanads’ (ST certificates) be provided to all the concerned persons within the next three months. The PUCL also submitted a copy of the fact-finding report to the commission.

In another memorandum, the state unit of the Socialist Unity Centre of India (SUCI) demanded punitive action against the police and forest officials responsible for committing atrocities on the tribals.