Lucknow, Oct 21 (IANS): Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav on Friday announced Rs 5 lakh financial assistance for parents of each of the policemen who lost their lives in the past one year.

At an event here to mark the "Police Smriti Diwas", Akhilesh Yadav paid tributes to the 116 policemen who died while on duty in the past pone year.

According to an official, this amount would be other than the ex-gratia given in such cases.

However, Akhilesh this year did not address the gathering, unlike in previous years when the Chief Minister addressed the people, including senior officials, families and relatives of the martyred policemen.

The announcement was made to the media.

An official told IANS that the assistance was announced keeping in mind the bitter history of family wrangling where the widow would keep the amount, leaving the parents unattended.

A martyred policeman's family, according to the rules, gets Rs 20 lakh as compensation.