LAHORE, Dec 26: Over 60 per cent of the victims whose motorcycles were burnt by rioters during a protest against the publications of controversial caricatures of the Holy Prophet (PBUH) in several European newspapers in February, are trapped in official intrigues and have not received ‘promised compensation’, Dawn has learnt.

Over 100 motorcycles and scores of cycles were burnt, mostly outside a bank on Egerton Road, when participants of a rally went berserk to protest the caricatures. The rally was organised by religious parties under the banner of the Tahaffuz Namoose Risaalat. Some buildings on The Mall and Egerton Road and several cars were also burnt during the protest.

The Punjab government announced that the owners of burnt cycles and motorcycles would be compensated. However, the government did not accept claims of building and car owners. An international food chain, whose one restaurant was also damaged during the rioting, was however helped claim insurance. A certificate was issued to the restaurant that read fire-fighters had arrived half an hour late to put out the flames engulfing the restaurant.

The government released funds for compensation and the public facility district officer of the city district government was made the focal person to process the claims.

Only 30 victims have got the compensation while others were yet running from pillar to post to get the promised motorcycles.

Dawn also learnt that those who were given new motorcycles were reportedly made to pay Rs5,000 each as bribe to the officials. The rest of the victims also approached various forums, including the provincial ombudsman, but to no avail.

The victims alleged that CDGL officials had asked for documents as well as damaged body or frame of the burnt motorcycles while those who had been compensated had not been asked to do that.

They said that they had deposited the documents but not the bodies which were in the custody of police. They said police had refused to give them the motorcycles, saying they were case property.