THE INDIAN CRIMINAL CODE IS ORIENTED TOWARDS SAFEGUARDING THE RIGHTS OF THE OFFENDER, NOT THOSE OF THE VICTIM; HOWEVER, SINCE OCTOBER 1972, THE VICTIMS OF DACOIT GANGS (GANGS WHICH ARE INVOLVED IN BANDITRY AND KIDNAPPING) ARE ENTITLED TO EX GRATIA PAYMENTS BY THE GOVERNMENT AS A COMPENSATION FOR THEIR LOSSES. THIS STUDY EXAMINED 184 VICTIMS, 170 EYEWITNESSES, AND 31 POLICE OFFICERS INVOLVED WITH DACOIT OFFENSES IN TWO DISTRICTS OF THE CHAMBAL VALLEY. A SET OF QUESTIONNAIRES WAS DEVELOPED, PRETESTED AND STANDARDIZED FOR EACH TYPE OF INTERVIEWEE. THE STATISTICAL ANALYSIS OF THE RESULTS INDICATED THAT THE MAJORITY OF THE VICTIM RECEIVED VERY SMALL CASH COMPENSATIONS WHICH WERE OBTAINED ONLY AFTER A CONSIDERABLE DELAY. ONLY 8.2 PERCENT OF THE VICTIMS' DEPENDENTS WERE AWARDED SCHOLARSHIPS; THE RECIPIENTS WERE OF PREDOMINANTLY HIGH SOCIOECONOMIC STATUS. THE TIME LAPSE BETWEEN THE COMMISSION OF THE OFFENSE AND THE GRANTING OF THE SCHOLARSHIP WAS AGAIN CONSIDERABLE. THE 10.9 PERCENT OF THE VICTIMS WHO WERE ALLOTTED LAND CULTIVATION BELONGED TO GROUPS OWNING VERY LITTLE CULTIVABLE LAND; IN THESE CASES THE TIME DELAY UNTIL THE ALLOTMENT OF THE LAND WAS UP TO 2 YEARS. THE VICTIMS--ESPECIALLY POOR VILLAGERS--REPORTED CONSIDERABLE DIFFICULTIES IN OBTAINING GOVERNMENT HELP AND THE NEED TO BRIBE OFFICIALS. SINCE 1964, POLICE OFFICERS WORKING IN THE DACOITY INFESTED AREAS HAVE BEEN ENTITLED TO A SPECIAL PENSION OR PAY AND EDUCATIONAL BENEFITS FOR FAMILY MEMBERS. ALTHOUGH NO POLICE VICTIMS WERE AVAILABLE, COLLEAGUES REPORTED THAT THE PROCESS OF OBTAINING GOVERNMENT COMPENSATION WAS LONG AND DIFFICULT. THE ARTICLE CONTAINS EXTENSIVE STATISTICAL CHARTS. (SAJ)