Cops yet to arrest driver of police van that knocked down four on Sunday

Accident victim battles for life

Cops yet to arrest driver of police van that knocked down four on Sunday

The condition of Vikram Hemant Adhav (20) from Wanowrie, who was hit by a police vehicle early Sunday, has deteriorated. Doctors at the Jahangir hospital, where he has been admitted, said there was slim chance he would survive. About 30 to 40 relatives of his from Nagpur and as far as the United Kingdom have arrived at the hospital.

Vikram's aunt, Loretta Lancelot, who works as a nurse in the cardiac department of a Nagpur hospital, said: "The doctor, who operated on Vicky (Vikram), said he got the first heart attack between 5 am and 7 am. He has got five to eight cardiac arrests since then."

Unhelpful police
Relatives of the victim also complained the police were yet to arrest Constable Sheetal Shinde, who was driving the vehicle.

"If it would have been a common man driving recklessly, then they would have immediately arrested him. But in this case it is one of them and that is why they are not taking stringent action against them," Vikram's father Hemant said.

Vikram's elder sister Aaparna said the police were also not cooperative. "On the day when my brother was admitted to Jahangir, we were told that the police would pay the compensation amount. The bill for one day has come up to Rs 1.9 lakh, but when I contacted Police Inspector Sudhakar Kate he told me to contact higher authorities," Aaparna said. "My father went to the Commissioner's office but was not allowed to meet Meeran Chadhha Borwankar. The officers there asked him to meet ACP Mohammed Makandar, but when my father went to meet Makandar he was told by officers that Makandar was expected to arrive in half an hour. After waiting for nearly one and half hours my father had to return back without meeting the officer."

Aaparna also said that the eye-witness Amjad Khan, who was arrested by the police for rioting and vandalism, helped admit her brother to the hospital. "Actually Amjad was the person who got my brother admitted to the hospital. Now next time no one will dare to help accident victims."

Double standards
Hussein Geelawala, brother of another victim Abbas Yusuf Gheewala (19) of Raviwar Peth told MiD DAY, "Police should arrest the driver first. If they can arrest the person who knocked the constable within a few hours then why can not they arrest their own man who knocked four men including my brother?"

Abbas is recuperating at Ruby Hall Clinic. Hussein said Abbas had to undergo surgery, as there were multiple fractures on his left leg.

According to Cantonment police station records, four who were injured are Rohan Nandkumar Randheer (20) of Yerwada, Abbas Yusuf Gheewala (19) of Raviwar Peth, Aloysius Joseph Anthony (20) and Vikram Hemant Adhav (20), both from Wanvadi. Only Randheer was discharged from the hospital.

When MiD DAY contacted investigating officer PI Sushma Chavan, she said: "I was busy with two important cases including the case of rioting against the seven who had pelted stones on police vehicle on the day of the accident. We have arrested Amjad Khan who manhandled the driver of the police vehicle. Khan was remanded to two days of police custody," Chavan said. "We have registered a case against driver Shinde and the investigation is on. He will be arrested today."

S D Aakale, Police Inspector in-charge of Motor transport Department, said: "I have no details about Shinde who was working with our section. Action is possible only after the police station concerned submits its report."