The Maharashtra government has decided to give Rs 1 lakh to the kin of Leisha Chon, the Naga girl from Manipur who was killed at the Gateway of India on Saturday.
The amount would be sent to the Manipur government, Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh told a delegation led by Manipur Education Minister Francis Gajopa which met him on Thursday.
Chon and friend Ngakuimi Ralang were sightseeing at the Mumbai landmark when Uzer Patel, an unemployed youngster, attacked them.
While Chon died on the spot, Ralang is recuperating at Bombay Hospital, where former Defence minister George Fernandes paid her a visit on Thursday.
Fernandes stayed for about 30 minutes and also met Salil Deshpande, the youngster who rushed to Raleng’s rescue. ‘‘I have had a long association with the Manipuris, I did not want them to feel isolated on the basis of language or religion. So I have come to show my support,’’ he said.
Ralang’s relatives said she has bouts of giddiness and is always drowsy. ‘‘Even while we are talking to her, she falls asleep,’’ said a cousin. ‘‘We do not intend to take her back home until she recovers fully.’’
While Deshmukh said the government would bear Ralang’s medical expenses, the management of Bombay Hospital also promised to do so.
A search for answers
Meanwhile, the police are still trying to establish Uzer Patel’s motive. ‘‘He is still giving us incoherent replies and we are trying to determine his whereabouts that day,’’ said Additional Commisioner of Police (South Region) S P Yadav.
He also revealed that the police do not have any medical records on Patel. ‘‘We do not have any previous medical paperwork on him, but the family said he was getting treatment and had stopped taking medicines about three months ago.’’
‘‘He is normal, he is just addicted to charas (hashish),’’ said Police Inspector S B Gaikwad of the Oshiwara police.