Grim Return: Jharkhand Migrant's Body Arrives Amid Compensation Standoff

The family of Vijay Kumar Mahato, a migrant worker killed in Saudi Arabia, refused to accept his returned body, demanding compensation from the company he worked for. Mahato died in an alleged crossfire. The compensation is pending a court decision in Jeddah, complicating closure for his bereaved family.

The body of Vijay Kumar Mahato, a migrant worker from Jharkhand's Giridih district, has finally reached Ranchi Airport after he was killed in Saudi Arabia last October. However, his family has refused to accept the body, demanding compensation from Mahato's former employer in Saudi Arabia before proceeding with final rites.

According to Shikha Lakra, team leader of the state migrant control cell, Mahato was killed in a crossfire between police and criminals, and the case is currently under judicial consideration in Jeddah, which will determine compensation. The Indian Embassy coordinated with local authorities to facilitate the body's return.

Despite the state sanctioning Rs 5 lakh under a government scheme for deaths abroad, Giridih Deputy Commissioner Ram Niwas Yadav noted that payment from the company could be delayed due to legal proceedings. Meanwhile, the family stands firm on its demand for a written assurance of compensation before accepting the body.