KOLKATA: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday announced the compensation of Rs 5 lakh each to the families of those who lost their lives in Mangaluru during protests against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019.

"We will pay a cheque of Rs 5 lakh each to the families of those who lost their lives in Mangaluru during protests against the new citizenship law," said Banerjee at a public rally here.

Though Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yeddyurappa had initially announced a compensation for the families of the deceased people, he later withdrew his offer. Now, with Mamata announcing compensation, the BJP government is facing criticism from the public.

Meanwhile, Banerjee also said that she would tell all the students to continue their protest against the CAA and the National Register of Citizens (NRC) in a democratic way.

"I will tell all the students to continue their protest for their democratic rights, in a democratic way," she said.

The West Bengal Chief Minister also took out a protest march with a huge gathering from Rajabazar to Mallick Baazar here against the CAA and the NRC.

"I know students are being threatened. I urge you to be together, to be united," she asserted.

"I stopped NPR (National Population Register) because they ask for the certificates ... On December 30, I will do a rally in Purulia," she said.