Kochi: The state government has informed the High Court that 25 people have been exempted from confiscation proceedings to recover compensation for the violence during the lightning hartal called by the Popular Front. After it was found that they have no connection with the Popular Front organization, the action was taken as per the court order.
The court was also informed that the proceedings against those who were exempted from the confiscation proceedings have been terminated. The government also stated that their confiscated properties have been returned.
The government also informed the court that 6 lakhs have been allocated to the claims commissioner appointed to settle the losses in the hartal violence to start the office. A division bench comprising Justices AK Jayasankaran Nambiar and CP Muhammad Nias had earlier asked the government to prepare the necessary facilities for the Claims Commissioner within a month.
On September 23, 2022, the Popular Front held a hartal in the state to protest the arrest of national leaders by the NIA. On September 29, 2022, the court ordered compensation from the leaders for the destruction of public property during the violence that took place at various places during the hartal.
