Two cops suspended for delay in informing parents

Disciplinary action has been initiated against the investigating officer (IO) and the Station House Officer (SHO) for their delay in informing the family of Hindustan Times journalist Jayanta Kumar Rath about his death.

Disciplinary action has been initiated against the investigating officer (IO) and the Station House Officer (SHO) for their delay in informing the family of Hindustan Times journalist Jayanta Kumar Rath about his death.

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The Crime Branch Special Investigation Team (SIT) found there was a good 16 hours delay by the railway police in informing 26-year-old Jayanta’s family about his death on the tracks at New Delhi Railway station.

“It was found that there was a gross negligence and insensitivity on the part of the IO and the SHO in dealing with the case and informing Jayanta’s family,” said Amulya Patnaik, joint commissioner of police (crime). “Disciplinary action will be taken and we have initiated a departmental enquiry against both of them.”

Though Jayanta died around 10.30 p.m. on May 7, his body was only discovered by the authorities around 4.30 a.m. on May 8.

The railway police did not bother to inform the family about Jayanta’s death even though he had his mobile phone and other identification papers intact on him. The police only informed the family around 8.30 p.m. on May 8.

As the family was informed late, his parents who live in Cuttack in Orissa could not attend his cremation.