New Delhi, Oct 13 - The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has asked the Assam government to compensate the families of two people who were killed in police firing while they were protesting the torture of an advocate in the state last month.

Ram Singh Chauhan and Jawaharlal Gour were protesting the manhandling of an advocate by the police last month in the Karbi Anglong district of Assam, when they were "fired at indiscriminately" by a police officer.

Taking up the issue, the Asian Centre for Human Rights which works in the state, brought the matter to the notice of the NHRC.

"The NHRC thereon has asked the Assam government to pay the families of the victims a compensation of Rs. 500,000 each and submit the compliance report along with proof of payment within six weeks of the notice," an NHRC official said.

The NHRC sent the notice late last week.

An official of the Asian Centre for Human Rights said: "We are very happy with the NHRC's intervention. However, since the chargesheet has not yet been filed against the accused, we are not giving up the case yet and hope the NHRC will not either." (IANS)