MP road accident victim’s family demands CBI probe into police apathy
The family of 22-year-old Vikas Soniya, who died in an accident in front of Madhya Pradesh assembly on March 1, has demanded a fair and free enquiry by central bureau of investigation (CBI) or any other equivalent investigation agency in the case.
The family of 22-year-old Vikas Soniya, who died in an accident in front of Madhya Pradesh assembly on March 1, has demanded a fair and free enquiry by central bureau of investigation (CBI) or any other equivalent investigation agency in the case.
The police have recently submitted an enquiry report of the case to state human rights commission (SHRC) after the national human rights commission (NHRC) took notice of the tragic incident.
“We don’t believe in the enquiry report submitted by the police to SHRC as the enquiry was carried by the police on the role of the policemen present during the accident. We want a fair and free enquiry by CBI or any other investigation agency as one cannot expect the police to hold its own men irresponsible whose inaction cost my son his life”, said Gokul Prasad Soniya, father of deceased Vikas while talking to HT.
Police pressurized eyewitnesses to give statements in their favour, say youth’s father
Gokul also accused the police of distorting the facts and pressurizing the eyewitnesses to give statements in their favour so as to make the enquiry report tilting towards them.
“During the enquiry they never came to me to know my version on the incident. Also, the auto-rickshaw driver who was stopped by the police from taking my son to the hospital was pressurized by the police to change his statement, after which he said that he was not present during the accident. How can we accept police enquiry report, if such things come to our knowledge”, added Gokul.
“No official from the administration has come to me to know my condition after the tragic demise of my son. Instead, they are holding me guilty of speaking to the media and criticizing the police and the administration for their insensitivity towards my son who lay there unattended for nearly 30 minutes. They are reacting like I am responsible for my son’s death”, said Gokul.
We have carried a completely fair enquiry : ASP
The police however denied the allegations of Gokul and said that they have carried a completely fair enquiry based on the available facts and statements of the eyewitnesses present during the incident.
“We have completed our enquiry by inspecting all the facts and evidences. As there was much dispute about the time of the accident and duration for which the victim was laid unattended. We have thoroughly enquired the call logs of 108 emergency service, Dial 100, police control room and traffic police control room”, said Sameer Yadav, additional superintendent of police(traffic) who was heading the enquiry.
Speaking to HT, he said that the police during its enquiry, made the footage of the CCTV cameras installed near the accident spot as its base.
“After checking the CCTV camera footage installed near the accident spot, it was found that the accident happened at 11.33 am after which within minutes the policemen present there called the 108 emergency ambulance service. The police were waiting for the ambulance to come as they were informed that it is on its way towards the spot and will reach in few minutes. At 11.42am the cavalcade of the chief minister passed from there and after three minutes of it the first ambulance reached there which took him to the nearby hospital. The whole process took 13 minutes instead of alleged 30 minutes”, added Yadav.
He also said that the people present there waited for the ambulance instead of taking him by another vehicle because he didn’t bleed.
“The deceased sustained serious internal injuries which included rupturing of his left lung due to breakage of 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th ribs of his ribcage and rupturing of kidneys resulting in excessive internal bleeding. As he was not bleeding from outside, the people thought that he had not suffered any major injuries. And as far as the allegation of stopping the auto-rickshaw from taking him to the hospital, the auto-rickshaw driver has said that he was not present at the spot and was standing at a distance from it. Rest, we have submitted the complete report to deputy inspector general, Raman Singh Sikarwar”, added Yadav.
Govt should order a fair and free probe into the incident: Activist
Speaking to HT on the enquiry being carried out by the police, noted human rights and right to information activist, Ajay Dubey said that the government should order a fair and free probe in the incident.
“If the government wants to send out a message in the public and show its concern, then it should order a probe in to the matter headed by a sitting judge, as in 99% such cases, the decision goes in the favour of police if the enquiry is carried out by the police itself”, said Dubey.
“The government should punish the guilty and make it clear to the public that no-one would spared in such cases irrespective of their positions and departments”, added Dubey.