July 29: Chief Minister Manohar Joshi today said that 70 people killed in the police firing in Maharashtra-Karnataka border agitation during 1969 will be declared as `martyrs'.

Briefing the media persons after the weekly cabinet meeting held here, Joshi said financial assistance of Rs 1000 per month will be provided to the next of those killed during the agitation which will incur an expenditure of Rs nine lakh per annum. The scheme would be effective from August 1, Joshi said.

The state government has also decided to set up a special rehabilitation centre for destitute girls in Mumbai very soon, Joshi announced.

Copyright © 1997 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.