E-Paper
28-year-old killed: No probe, no arrest yet in freak go-kart mishap even after 48 hrs
Puneet’s family, meanwhile, maintained that the incident took place because of negligence of part of the staff at the amusement park.
Even two days after a Bathinda woman was killed in a freak go-kart mishap at an amusement park in Pinjore on Wednesday, the Haryana tourism department officials failed to start its probe into the incident.
Reason: All three members of the fact-finding committee constituted on Thursday to look into the reasons and circumstances that led to her death were busy with the department’s ongoing Surajkund Mela in Faridabad.
They are not likely to visit the spot any time before Monday as the fair will be over on Sunday. The victim, Puneet Kaur, resident of Rampura Phul in Bathinda, was visiting the park, Aqua Village, adjacent to Yadavindra Gardens, with her family. While riding a go-kart — an open wheel car used for recreational purposes — her hair got caught in the vehicle’s wheel, tearing her scalp off the head.
She was rushed to a private hospital from where she was referred to General Hospital, Sector 6, where doctors declared her brought dead. The police on Wednesday night had booked the park contractor under Section 304A (causing death by negligence) of the Indian Penal Code, and seized the go-kart.
The amusement park is being run by Sonepat-based Sushil Malik, who got its lease from the tourism department for 10 years in 2013.
Questioned on the delay in probe, Haryana tourism additional chief secretary Vijai Vardhan said the fact-finding committee has been given 10 days. “They will submit the report in time,” he said.
The committee comprises department’s chief engineer RK Yadav, general manager Manita Malik and another senior official, Dilawar Singh.
‘Thorough probe before arrest’
Meanwhile, the Pinjore police are yet to question the contractor, as he was said to be out of town. Malik, when contacted, said he was not hiding. “I was not in town even before the incident. I am busy with some work. I will join the probe on Monday,” he said.
Panchkula police commissioner AS Chawla said he has directed the investigation officer to thoroughly check for lapses in the entire incident before making any arrest. “It is a complex matter. Both sides have to be checked,” he said. “We are also taking legal opinion on establishing the role of the tourism department’s supervisory staff.”
Chawla said the departmental probe report will also be important in establishing criminal action in the case. Pinjore station house officer (SHO) Sukhbir Singh, who is probing the matter, could not be contacted.
Questions on negligence
Puneet’s family, meanwhile, maintained that the incident took place because of negligence of part of the staff at the amusement park. Her husband, Amardeep Singh, said the helmet given to them was loose. “Her hair would not have come out if it were a proper helmet,” he said, adding that there was no marshal on the tracks to help the riders.
However, Malik said though the incident was rare and tragic, his staff was not negligent. “There is a proper list of precautions displayed there. The helmet was branded and well-locked. They should have alerted the ground staff if it was not fitting her well and got it replaced,” he said.
Malik also said that there are four marshals to guide the visitors. “They all stand at a distance of 50 metres to cover all corners,” he said.
