The Maharashtra government on Monday paid Rs 2 lakh each to the legal heirs of persons reported missing in the 1992-93 communal violence and the subsequent serial bomb blasts in Mumbai.

It was a touching moment for 15 families, who received the cheques nearly a decade after they lost their near and dear ones in one of the countries' worst communal flare-up.

"Yes, it is a nice gesture on the part of the government to pay us compensation," said Taramati Borade, whose husband went missing in the riots. "It would have been better if we had received the amount earlier. It could have helped in getting my children a better education," she added.

Vinaya Vaidya, whose father went missing in the riots, said "the compensation was delayed because of many bureaucratic hurdles."
        
Salim, who collected the compensation on his brother's behalf, said: "Der se aaye par kutch to madad hui. [the money came late, but it is still some help."