In another bold move which is certain to irk Pakistan, Modi government on Wednesday announced compensation for civilian victims of terror in the valley including the residents of Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (POK).

The government said that since people living in POK are our people too, they can claim the compensation. "Kashmiris in PoK are an important part of India and they can also claim such a compensation,"Minister of state for PMO, Jitendra Singh was quoted in IndiaToday.

The move came days after PM Modi raised to issue of Balochistan, Gilgit and Pakistan Occupied Kashmir in his Independence Day speech.

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The minister further said that there is nothing offensive in roping in the people of POK for compensation since POK also is a part of India occupied by Pakistan.

"By the virtue of the Constitution of India, rules also apply in that part of the country which is occupied by Pakistan. Those residents are also our people and are victims of similar condition,"added Singh.

Jitender Singh's statement came after Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Modi, gave its approval to enhance the grant of compensation to the civilian victims under the scheme titled "Central Scheme for Assistance to Civilian Victims of Terrorist/ Communal/Left Wing Extremist (LWE), Cross Border Firing and Mine/IED blasts on Indian Territory".

The compensation had been increased from Rs 3 lakhs to Rs 5 lakhs.

Main features of the scheme

1. Civilian victims of cross border firing along the Indo-Pak border will be given a compensation of Rs 5 lakh similar to those who die due to terrorism or LWE violence. Earlier there was no such provision where people living around international border getting compensation for loss of life during cross border firing.

2. Any civilian who dies in terror strike, be in Kashmir, north-east or LWE areas will be given Rs 5 lakh as compensation uniformly. The amount will be given to the next of kin of the victim.

3. The person who receives 50 per cent or more disability in terror strike will also get Rs 5 lakhs.

4. The compensation amount will be given subject to the condition that no employment has been provided to any of the family members of the victims by state or Central Government.

So far, the government has disbursed Rs 35.89 crore as compensation to civilian victims since the inception of this scheme in 2008.