PM Modi announces ex-gratia payment of Rs 10 lakh each to families of Indians killed in Iraq's Mosul

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday announced ex-gratia payment of Rs 10 lakh each to families of those killed in Iraq's Mosul.

Minister of State for External Affairs General V K Singh on Monday brought back the mortal remains of 38 of the 39 Indians killed in Iraq to the country. Singh left for Iraq on Sunday.

The special Indian Air Force aircraft carrying 38 bodies landed in Amritsar at around 2:30 pm. 

One body could not be brought back for now as the DNA testing had only provided a 70 per cent match. Of the 39 Indians killed, 27 belonged to Punjab. Four were from Himachal Pradesh, six from Bihar and two from West Bengal. 

Punjab Minister Navjot Singh Sidhu also announced Rs 5 lakh as compensation to the kin of deceased. One member from each of the family would be given a government job in Punjab. Apart from it, Rs 20,000 monthly financial compensation would also continue, he said.