Amritsar train mishap; Security circular sent, but not to Rlys

Jupinderjit Singh
Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, October 22

Twenty-four hours prior to the Amritsar train accident, the Amritsar Commissionerate of Police had sent out a ‘Security Programme’ for the function at Golden Avenue, ordering the deployment of 75 policemen for an expected crowd of 15,000-20,000. Despite training in crowd control, the police failed to prevent the tragedy.

The three-page circular was marked to the district administration, the MC, the area SHO and the traffic wing. Despite the venue being adjacent to a rail track, it was not sent to the Railways. This was confirmed by Inder Preet Singh Sahota, ADGP-Railways, who began a probe into the accident on Monday. In fact, security plans were made for 20 key Dasehra venues in Amritsar and duties clearly marked. 

Commissioner of Police SS Srivastava maintained that rail tracks “did not come under the jurisdiction of the district police”. He declined to say anything further.

Contrary to allegations that “proper” permission had not been taken, the police circular shows the local authorities were aware of it and had made elaborate bandobast. The tragedy occurred despite the ‘Security Programme’, a mandatory document with details regarding the security arrangements at a venue where a VIP or a large gathering is expected.

Case filed against Navjot Kaur in Bihar

Patna: A case was lodged at a court in Muzaffarpur on Monday against Navjot Kaur Sidhu in connection with the train tragedy. It was alleged that her presence at the Dasehra event led to the crowd being pulled back to the tracks and mowed down. The court has fixed November 3 as the date of hearing. TNS

NHRC issues notices to punjab govt, railways

New Delhi: The National Human Rights Commission has issued notices to the Railways and the Punjab government over the Amritsar accident. The panel observed that it cannot be said to be a “sane act” by people to sit on railway tracks, but at the same time, the “negligence on the part of the district authorities is apparent” behind this “bizarre and horrific incident”. PTI

Punjab Human Rights panel asks for report 

Chandigarh: Taking suo motu cognisance of the mishap, the Punjab Human Rights Commission has called for a report on the matter from the state government through the DGP and the Chief Secretary  by November 8. The notice has been issued by the Bench comprising chairperson Justice Iqbal A Ansari and members Justice Ashutosh Mohunta and Avinash Kaur. TNS